STUDY SHOWS 1/5 OF AVERAGE ITALIAN FAMILY’S INCOME IS SPENT ON FOOD

According to data that was recently collected by Coldiretti from a study that was made on the effects of cost of living increases on Italian families, food is the second most costly monthly spending for Italian families, preceded only by housing costs. It absorbs 19% of a family’s total monthly spending for an average that has gone up to 467 euros per month. 106 euros are spent on meat, 84 euros for fruits and vegetables, 79 euros for bread and pasta, and 64 euros for eggs, cheese and milk.

According to the analyses, the 467 euros that are spent per family per month for food and drink go largely to the commerce and service industry (238 euros, which is equivalent to 51% of total spending), followed by the food industry (140 euros, at 30%), and only a meager sum ends up with the actual food producers (89 euros, making up 19%).
This means that prices have now increased by an average 5 times from where they start in the fields to when they end up on dinner plates; obvious evidence, according to Coldiretti, that steps must be taken against speculation on food production processes.

Coldiretti believes that part of the solution would be to make it necessary to guarantee more transparency with the obligation of indicating food sources on labels as well as changing inefficient food processes instead of avoiding the much needed structural renovations in the food industry.


Focus – Monthly Food and Drink Costs for Italian Families

Meat - 106 euros

Bread, Pasta, Grains - 79 euros

Eggs, Cheese, Milk - 64 euros

Fruits and Vegetables - 84 euros

Fish - 42 euros

Sugar, Sweets, and Coffee - 32 euros

Drinks - 42 euros

Oils and fats - 18 euros

Total - 467 euro

source: Coldiretti and Istat