Those who consume vitamins can notice price differences of 60 percent compared to buying online and differences of up to NIS 150 between the marketing chains – well, what is the reason for this?
For years, Israelis and importers have been complaining that the prices of vitamins in Israel are 4 times more expensive than in the US and other countries in the world. This coming January, the food importer reform is expected to be launched, which will facilitate the import of products according to the European standard, and despite this, food additives are not included in it, when the regulation on additives Nutrition in Israel continues to be complicated and difficult.
In a test conducted by ‘Khan Ha’od’ with the Consumer Council in the field of nutritional supplements, which examined 230 nutritional supplements and vitamins of the type ABCD, iron, omega 3 and more, it was found that in the last year not only did the prices not decrease, they actually increased by an average of 10 percent . The high increase was recorded in vitamin D products and multivitamin products for adults and children – 14-16 percent.
The inspection also shows that the significant differences are between the marketing chains themselves, which can reach NIS 150 between one chain and another. For example, Mega Vit multivitamin is sold at Super Pharm online for NIS 130 and Bebe online for NIS 279.
With regard to orders from abroad, the differences can reach 60 percent. Multivitamin tablets cost NIS 101 in the Hay Herb and on average in the chains about 140 NIS – a difference of 38 percent. Zinc picolinate will cost NIS 51 on average in the chains and on the Hay Herb website NIS 47 a difference of 9 Vitamin B12 will cost an average of NIS 57 in the networks and on the Hai Rabbi website NIS 34 – a difference of 67 percent.
A general comparison between the chains themselves shows that Super Pharm Online is the cheapest – and the Bee chain is the most expensive, with a difference of more than NIS 600 in the product basket.
The reason for all of this is the impossible requirements of the Ministry of Health – a process of up to two years to obtain an import license, a double check of each batch in each shipment, the presentation of countless documents, and the lack of competition in the field make vitamin prices in Israel four times more expensive on average than in the US.