A pasta crisis has erupted in Italy, calling for an emergency meeting by the Italian government. Pasta prices have surged due to producers selling stocks at elevated prices attributed to increasing raw material costs.
Pasta prices at restaurants have seen a rise of over 6 percent year-on-year, according to Italy’s consumer rights group Assoutenti, reported CNBC. On average, an Italian consumes almost 23 kg of pasta per year, based on data by the International Pasta Organisation.
According to Assoutenti, higher prices are maintained to increase profits and the solution to combat that is for a nationwide ‘pasta strike’ to create a significant drop in consumption aiming to cause a price reduction. At least a 15-day strike was suggested by the consumer rights group.
Italy’s Ministry of Economic Development called for an emergency meeting over the price of pasta. The meeting attendees included pasta producers, consumer associations and government officials, the motion to cap pasta prices was rejected.
According to a note by the Italy Ministry of Business, costs have come down but have not returned to past levels and are still comparatively high as compared to the last few years.
“We would like to leave this day with the understanding that pasta is the solution, not the problem,” the note concluded.
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