Antonino Galofaro, edited by Julia Solans / Photo credit: Foodcollection GesmbH / foodcollection / foodcollection via AFP 07:38, May 19, 2023

The France is far from the only country to suffer from soaring prices since the war in Ukraine. Its transalpine neighbor is one of the most affected and among the targeted foods are pasta. A heartbreak for Italians who do not consider their daily life without this almost sacred food at home.

Not eating pasta in Italy is almost mission impossible. And yet, it is one of the products most affected by the rise in prices among the transalpines, already victims of higher inflation than the rest of the European Union. While the business minister has promised measures to counter what he defines as "speculation", Italians are not giving up on pasta, regardless of the price. Europe 1 met Maria Luisa, a Milanese woman who remains faithful to the culinary tradition of her country.

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"Fooling" the consumer by "shrinkflation"

The problem is now only a question of price according to the Milanese. To mask global inflation, prices remain the same "with certain brands" but the quantities inside the packaging have decreased. A phenomenon called "shrinkflation" and has grown in recent years. A legal practice, but nevertheless immoral. Roberto Giordano, vice-president of the Association for the Defence of Consumers, denounces this practice which aims to deceive the consumer in spite of himself.

"The consumer knows that a packet of pasta contains 500 grams of pasta. That said, if we introduce a package of 450 grams at the same price will be fooled," he said. Despite an increasingly exorbitant price, Italians are determined not to skip their favorite dish. Giorgia, sitting on the terrace in a Milanese restaurant, finished her pasta and does not regret it. "I'm willing to spend 20 to 30 cents more per package than before."

In one year, the price of pasta has increased by 17.5%, twice as much as the average consumer price inflation. The rise in prices rose to 8.2% year-on-year in April in Italy, according to data published by the National Institute of Statistics (Istat).