Watch: Robert Abela Defends Discounted Food Items Amidst Healthy Option Criticism
Prime Minister Robert Abela has played down concerns that the 15 food products selected as part of a price-slashing scheme are too unhealthy.
After the full list was revealed, several people questioned why items like French Fries and processed foods made the list, while fresh produce didn’t.
However, questioned by Lovin Malta, Abela said the list includes a variety of food products, including several healthy items.
“There are indeed French Fries but there are also vegetable products, including spinach – frozen, but still considered healthy – as well as chicken and beef products, and tinned tuna. I cannot agree with this criticism,” he said.
The price-reduction scheme will start on 1st February and last around nine months until the government announces its Budget for 2025.
Food importers have committed to reduce the recommended retail price (RRP) of 15 basic food items by 15%, with importers and retailers agreeing to shoulder the difference.
The 15 products, estimated to encompass over 400 products on the market, are:
-Corned beef, full fat, light and reduced salt, in all sizes
-Cornflakes in packets or bags
-Cream crackers in all sizes
-Fresh and frozen minced and ground beef, pork, or a combination of both
-Packed fresh and frozen pork chops
-Frozen raw chicken legs, both packed and in loose form/by weight, and fresh packed
-Frozen raw whole chicken, both packed and in loose form/by weight, and fresh packed
-Frozen peas, broccoli and spinach in bags of all sizes (excluding organic)
-Imported black tea bags of all sizes
-Instant coffee including decaf of all sizes
-Skipjack tuna in vegetable, soya or sunflower oil in tins of 70g to 200g (excluding skipjack and yellowfin tuna in brine and in olive oil)
-Standard, low fat and reduced salt vegetable spreads in tubs or foil
-Straight cut frozen friable French fries in bags of all sizes
-UHT milk: skimmed, semi-skimmed, and whole in cartons or bottles of all sizes
-Wheat spaghetti and penne in packets of all sizes
Do you agree with the list of 15 food items?
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