Fruits, vegetables, fish, meat… A balanced diet, once considered a given, is now becoming a privilege. Faced with the continued rise in prices, the Foodwatch association, supported by Familles Rurales and Secours Catholique, launched a national petition this Thursday, October 30.
Its objective: to force large retailers to sell 100 healthy food products at cost price, in accordance with the recommendations of the National Nutrition and Health Program (PNNS).
Eating well, a luxury for millions of French people
Guest on RMC, Karine Jacquemart, general director of Foodwatch France, denounces a glaring paradox.
“The scandal here is that on the one hand there are official health recommendations – eat vegetables, legumes, fish – but on the other hand, millions of people who cannot afford it. Eating healthy shouldn’t be a luxury for anyone.” she is indignant.
Making “eating well” accessible to all
According to the NGO, the list of 100 products would include fresh, frozen or canned fruits and vegetables, cereals, eggs, flour, dairy products and even fish.
“It contains a significant proportion of organic foods and also aims to promote products of French origin.” specifies Karine Jacquemart. Foodwatch wants this measure to be applied throughout the country, including overseas, in order to combat growing food insecurity.
Warding off any criticism, the manager emphasizes that the request is realistic. “Large retailers have thousands of references on their shelves. One hundred products good for public health is the minimum we can expect“. The association also hopes to evolve the debate on the “right to healthy food”, a notion that Foodwatch has been defending for several years.
Demand more transparency on margins
Beyond the price of products, Foodwatch calls for greater transparency on the margins of manufacturers and mass retailers. “Since the end of 2023, we have been demanding that the agri-food and distribution giants reveal their margins, so that prices are fair – both for producers and consumers.“, insists the director.
The petition was sent this Thursday morning to Roland Lescure, Minister of the Economy, and Serge Papin, Minister of SMEs and Commerce. “I really hope they respond, because that’s not an option” she concludes.
How to eat a balanced diet on a low budget?
Eating is above all about stocking up on energy in the form of lipids and carbohydrates… but not only that! The body also needs proteins for cell manufacturing, fiber to facilitate intestinal transit, minerals and vitamins for growth and vitality. But no food concentrates all of these nutrients at once! We must therefore play on complementarity between the different families to satisfy all our nutritional needs. Thus, a balanced meal must be composed with:
- A portion of meat, fish or egg as a source of protein and iron (or a vegetable equivalent such as pulses, cereals or soya);
- A dish of starchy vegetables, pulses or bread as a source of complex carbohydrates, fiber and minerals;
- Vegetables and fruits including at least one raw vegetable for fiber, vitamins and minerals;
- A dairy product for calcium intake;
- A fatty substance for essential fatty acids and certain vitamins;
- Without forgetting water, essential for hydration and additional mineral intake.
To achieve this on a low budget, consider eating local and seasonal, without forgetting to regularly buy frozen foods. And get cooking: homemade is always cheaper!