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NEWS
Agriculture Ministry: Mehudar Milk Included in Price Regulation
by Yated Ne'eman Staff
The price supervisor at the Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Development, Uri Tzuk Bar, sent out letters on Sunday to dairies and food retailers regarding complaints to the Agricultural Ministry and Trade and Industry Ministry that various food stores charge more for milk with special kashrus supervision.
"The fixed prices set by the Prices and Services Supervisor apply to all products, regardless of the type of kashrus," Tzuk Bar wrote in the letter. He then noted that special or mehudar kashrus is not considered an exception to the law or an "irregular" product since it does not contain added vitamins, flavor additives, vegetable additives, etc.
The Agriculture Ministry regulates the prices of a number of milk and egg staple products, including 1% milk and 3% milk in both bags and cartons, 4% Eshel, 3% Gil, standard 100 gram sticks of butter, 15% sour cream ("shamenet"), Emek cheese and Gilboa cheese.
Enforcement of regulated prices is handled by the Agriculture Ministry, but in practice enforcement is in the hands of Trade and Industry Ministry inspectors, in accordance with the Prices and Services Oversight Law.
"A basic condition for fair consumerism is raising the issue of transparency and clarity, and therefore there is no reason for consumers to pay more than [the price] set by the legislature," said Agriculture Minister Orit Noked. "This takes on greater significance when many consumers are wholly unaware of the fact that they are paying more for mehudar. This is an illegitimate practice and we are determined to put a stop to it."
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