Bread shock for consumers
Bread consumers in Sri Lanka await another shock and it would be another blow to nutrition!
The All Ceylon Bakery Owners Association (ACBOA) is now working out to reduce the weight of a loaf of bread from its original weight of 450 grams to 400 grams and to sell it at the same current price of Rs. 60 per loaf.
ACBOA held its AGM at Raddoluwa, Seeduwa last week and one of the issues they extensively discussed was the reduction of weight of a loaf of bread to 400 grams.
N.K. Jayawardena, Chairman, ACBOA who spoke to the Business Times later said that they have already written to the Minister of Cooperatives and Internal Trade submitting their proposal for his approval to reduce the weight of the loaf of bread.
But latest reports say Minister Johnston Fernando is opposed to the request and unlikely to permit it.
Mr. Jayawardena conceded that bread consumption has now reduced a little, presumably due to the high price. He said that they too are handicapped as the cost of production of bread is spiralling and as such they find it extremely difficult to sell a loaf of bread weighing 450 grams at Rs. 60, and this is the very reason to reduce the weight and sell at the same price.
However he noted that there is no serious impact on the bread industry due to the current reduced consumption and said that there is also no possible way to reduce cost of production.
It is customary to reduce the quantum of purchases of food items when food prices go up which automatically forces the people to take less nutrition and now in the case of bread the reduction of nutrition is ready made, as it comes in less weight.