Bread in Mozambique – same price but lighter?

Login

Register

http://www.clubofmozambique.com/

Bread in Mozambique – same price but lighter?

4:44 CAT | 11 Aug 2016

File photo

The price of flour has risen, and to prevent an increase in the cost of bread, the government has reintroduced subsidies. But some Mozambicans are accusing the baking industry of reducing the weight of loaves to offset costs.

The price may not have gone up, but the bread is lighter, they say. “We bought bread here, but we have noticed that there is a slight difference in terms of weight,” complains Nelo Taju, one of the citizens polled by DW Africa.

Raul Alexandre argues that a loaf of bread once enough for two now only provides for one. “I do not know if they put more Royal [yeast] in or which product they use to blow it up. You see a big loaf, but when you pick it up, it seems to shrink easily. That means that something is not right,” Raul says.

The bakers deny changes that loaves are getting lighter.

“Loaves still weigh the same. They are no lighter and still cost the same,” says Vicente Macie, manager of a bakery in Maputo.

Atanasio Vicente, another baker, welcomed the news that the government would re-introduce subsidies. “It will help because the price of flour and vitamins has risen,” he says.

The manager says that previously, the vitamin supplement cost 1,600 meticais (20 euros), but is now 2,100 meticais (30 euros). “Everythin goes up each day that passes. This is a situation the whole country is experiencing, not just the bakers,” Vicente complains.

The bakery manager argues that if there is one price that shouldn’t go up, it is the price of bread. “I think the government is right, because it affects me as much as other people. If you increase the price of bread, what will we eat?” he asks.

Source: Deutsche Welle