Barbados Food Prices Soar Amid Non-Communicable Disease Concerns

Using information from the study, Professor Moore used the tariffs on imported tomatoes and chocolate to paint a picture of the stark difference in price markups.

“The average duty on tomatoes is 199 per cent while the average duty on chocolate is 20 per cent. This makes it cheaper for people to buy chocolate. Let’s say we import tomatoes for $2; that means that by the time they get to the supermarket shelf, they will cost around $8. Similarly with the chocolate, if it costs $2 by the time that gets to the customer it would probably cost $2.25,” he said, pointing out that people bought food based on their spending power.

“When you go into the supermarket you not only look at your favourite brand but you also look at the price and if your salary cannot afford a particular brand you buy a cheaper brand. Also, if your salary does not allow you to buy those fresh fruits and vegetables then you are probably going to be buying a lot more caloric-dense food, which has high amounts of fat, sodium and sugar content.”

Professor Moore added that the paper suggested that the government not only lower prices on healthy foods but increase the prices of unhealthy foods.

He said there should be a holistic approach to taxing all unhealthy foods as opposed to singling out certain items like what was done with the sugar-sweetened beverage tax. In this way, he said, the government would still be able to generate income from import duties while making wholesome food more affordable and accessible to the average Barbadian.

Dr Lewis said that nine months ago the BCOPC had prepared a paper for the government proposing the introduction of a basket of goods for healthy foods similar to the established VAT-free basket of goods.

But there has been no response from the government to document to date, she said, although she maintained that the government would come around to it.

Dr Lewis said: “Based on recommendations from the Food and Agriculture Organisation, having a healthy basket of goods is one of the mechanisms that could be used to reduce the cost of healthy foods and drive increased consumption of healthy foods. This increases availability of these foods to the wider population. There is a link between the increase in availability of healthy foods, persons purchasing those healthy foods and the reduction of NCDs and increase in overall health.

“Perhaps there have been other priorities and other things that government has been caught up with but we do think it is a good opportunity to bring it back to the top of the pile.”

The suggested basket primarily contained homegrown ground provisions and other staples and seasonal fruits, the health advocate added.

Professor Moore warned that lowering the cost of imported healthy food could harm domestic agriculture. He said the reduction of taxes on produce could decrease the level of protection that farmers enjoy. But, he said that other countries used the additional revenue from increased taxes on unhealthy food to provide subsidies to farmers so they could keep their prices competitive.

(sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb)