Those who consume organic food pay about 63% more for their basket than a similar basket of inorganic products. This emerges from an examination by the Israel Consumer Council of retail chains. The Consumer Council examined the prices of organic food products compared to non-organic products, and a price comparison and supply of organic products was conducted between the major food chains in Israel.
The test included a basket of 210 organic products. Prices were checked on three dates on 13.7.2022, 12.1.2022 (beginning of the year) and 14.7.2021 (a year ago).
The test revealed that there is an average increase of close to 3 compared to their price at the beginning of the year in the price of all products. The difference between the prices of “regular” and organic products is many tens of percent.
In addition, the Israeli Council examined a basket of 36 organic products against a basket of “regular” products (some of them from the same manufacturer). The test was conducted on the basis of an average price from all the chains (including promotions, without credit promotions). The test was performed on 13.7.2022. The data were based on the Prizes and Stornx sites (statistical support – Dr. Or Katz from the Ashkelon Academic College).
The test shows that the basket of organic products is 63% (NIS 320) more expensive than the regular basket. Many of the organic products are hundreds of percent more expensive than their non-organic counterparts, most of the differences being in fruits and vegetables. Carrots packed in a bag are sold at an average price of NIS 4.3. Organic carrots in a bag sell for an average of NIS 9.9 (5 NIS difference, 127%).
Eggs Regular (Glicksman) Medium size 12 units – average price 11 NIS. Glickman Medium Organic Eggs 12 units Average price 22.5 NIS. Difference 11.5 ₪ 103%
Fresh milk In a 3% 1 liter carton – average price 5.8 NIS. Organic fresh milk 3% Golan Heights dairies 1 liter Average price 12.3 NIS. Difference 6.4 ₪ 109%
flour Whole wheat Israeli mills 1 kg – average price 5.9 NIS. Pure organic wholemeal flour 1 kilo Average price 14.2 NIS. The difference is 8.3 NIS which is 140%
Same product – more expensive
Organic coconut oil Cold pressed Green Coco 1 liter – sold at the Pulitzer chain for 39 NIS. In the market warehouses, the same oil is sold for 60 NIS. 54% difference (21 NIS)
Organic quinoa 500 gram grains – sold at the Stop Market chain for 14 NIS. Price in the Yochananoff chain 16 NIS. 115% difference of 16 NIS
Organic honey Bar Ein Ein Harod flowers 1 kg – sold at the Shaarei Welfare chain for NIS 50. In the Shufersal Green and Shufersal chain, the honey is sold for NIS 65. 30% difference, 15 NIS.
Grain instant coffee Organic Mount Hagen 100 g – Sold in the Rami Levy chain for 33 NIS. In the Saleh Dabah chain, the coffee is sold for 48 NIS. 46% difference,.
Only in 15 of the 57 chains and sub-chains, organic products were found. No organic products were found at all in the Shefa Birkat Hashem chains and the Good Market chain. Only 1 product out of 210 is found in the Shefa Birkat Hashem chain, as well as in the Netiv HaChesed, Osher Ad and Mahadrin market warehouses.
In the Shufersal Deal chain, 182 out of 210 were found, in Tiv Ta’am 171 out of 210, in my Shufersal 161 out of 210, and in Shufersal Green, 151 products out of 210.
The Consumer Council: “We have also found an alarming increase of about 3 percent in organic products since the beginning of the year. The price differences between different products, which reach many tens of percent in basic products like flour, eggs and milk are inconceivable. We need to get out of our comfort zone and change our shopping habits. It is convenient for all of us to buy in a place where we know each other, but we pay dearly for it, so the contribution of each of us to the cost of living is to compare prices and buy in a place that provides us with the basket that suits us at the best price.