The Rising Cost of Healthy Food

A well balanced, nourishing diet is officially more expensive than a diet high in sugar and fat.

Research at Deakin University, Melbourne has confirmed what many consumers already know and academics have suspected: the cost of food is rising and the cost of healthy food is rising quicker than the cost of unhealthy food.

Using the Consumer Price Index (CPI) Deakin Uni researchers examined trends in the prices of healthy and less-healthy foods from 1989 to 2007.

It was discovered that healthy staples - milk, bread, eggs and some meats - have risen in cost 20 per cent above inflation, while soft drinks, edible fats and oils and cakes and biscuits have dropped below inflation - soft drinks by 20 per cent, edible oils and cakes and biscuits by 10 per cent.

These price differences can be seen at the supermarket checkout; for example 1.25 litres of soft drink costs less than a dollar (99c) while a litre of milk is $1.59.

Dr Cate Burns from the WHO Collaborating Centre for Obesity Prevention at Deakin University says cost has become the primary driver of what people put in their trolleys.

Burns’ concern is that along with the rising cost of core foods will be a rise in obesity and other diet-related diseases such as heart disease and dental problems and that those most likely to be affected are those with the least financial resources.

The Consumer Price Index October figures show that food overall has risen by 1.4% since the June quarter. The most significant contributors to the increase in food prices this quarter were fruit (+4.5%), bread (+4.6%), restaurant meals (+1.3%) and vegetables (+1.3%).

Over the past 12 months increases are bread (+10.9%), milk (+10.9%), cheese (an incredible +14.2%), poultry (+11%) and breakfast cereals (+8.8%).