Rural families demand a food check for 65 euros per month for the most modest

477 euros. In times of inflation, this is the minimum amount a family of two adults and two children should pay monthly for a healthy diet, according to the association Familles Rurales, which is based on the recommendations of the National Nutrition and Health Plan.

In its annual price survey published today, Rural Families estimates that amount is almost 65 euros higher than families living below the poverty line can afford. Hence the idea expressed in a letter to Minister of Health François Braun to pay a special allowance to the most modest households. Its annual cost is estimated at 7.2 billion euros, which the association compares to “20 billion euros spent on treating pathologies that could have been avoided” by eating healthier food.

8.3% increase in healthy foods

With food inflation exceeding 12% per annum in 2022, a balanced diet also allows you to pay less, Rural Families emphasizes, according to which the increase in prices for healthy products was limited to 8.3%. “The explanation stems, in part, from the fact that the foods that are most beneficial to our health tend to be the least processed and require fewer intermediaries to produce,” Famille Rurales points out in her study.

Among the seven selected product categories, legumes had the lowest inflation (+3.8%), while fats (+12.9%) had the highest inflation. Grain and starch products went up in price by 11.2%, fruits and vegetables went up in price by 10.7%.

Due to inflation, the minimum food budget for a family of four has increased by 27 euros in 2022 to 477 euros per month from 450 euros in 2021. The survey was conducted over four periods (February, April, June and October 2022). in 134 stores by a team of 98 “consumer controllers” in 37 departments. The readings covered 85 consumer goods.