German shoppers, who enjoy some of Europe's cheapest groceries, are being asked this week by discount supermarket Penny to pay extra for some items to cover their "true cost" as it seeks to raise awareness of the environmental price of producing food.
  • bentropy@feddit.de
    31·
    11 months ago

    Could you explain the absurd high price of oat milk to me? I mean oat is cheap af, water is cheap af and the infrastructure to produce and package is already well established. But still, oat milk is compared to what it is insanely expensive…

    If you look closely you’ll see that investment firms like black rock, vanguard or staat street have their fingers in and in part control over almost all global companies. And evan without that fact - maximizing profits and growth - is kind of the main mantra of the global economy.

    Saying scalability is the main factor for higher prices and capitalists controlling prices would be a conspiracy theory seams very shortsighted and, sorry, uneducated to me.

    • hh93@lemm.eeEnglish
      4·
      11 months ago

      look up subsidies to milk-producers

      the price is still high compared to milk because milk is selling for far less than it should be (even if you completely ignored environmental cost) and many oat milks try to match that price-point as good as they can and are even selling at a loss (see Oatly)

      a lot of food is costing very little in comparison because the government is subsidizing it - shifting subsidies away from meat/dairy would make them cost more and potentially bankrupt local farmers - I just don’t see that every happening with how many people are thinking they have a right to eat meat every day

      also for example in Germany there are two tax-brackets for sales-tax the standard 19% or the reduced 7% - “basic-foods” are taxed at 7% and that includes milk and meat while oat-milk and meat-replacements are taxed as “special food” at 19% so that’s also a barrier that you just can’t break down by scaling better

      there are a lot of levers but pretty much all of them will have to result in meat and milk prices rising deliverately because of politicians - don’t tell me that you believe that this won’t result in a fundamental shitstorm against them…

    • Rayspekt@kbin.social
      1·
      11 months ago

      Oat milk is that expensive because hipsters don’t care and pay that price. They aren’t only selling a sustainable milk alternative, they are selling a lifestyle. There is not much of a conspiracy aside from companies charging the maximum that customers are willing to buy.