The Israel Health Ministry is working to encourage Israelis to eat healthier and as such, it is pushing to remove state price control ceilings from items viewed as less desirable and to place the price ceiling on healthier foods.

The ministry wishes to remove the state’s control and subsidy on the standard loaves of bread and replace them with whole wheat bread, which today is not within the budget of many families. In addition, other items currently under government price control such as butter, cheeses with fat content over 15% and yellow hard cheeses would be removed from the price control list. White lower fat cheeses, 5% or lower fat cottage cheese would replace those items.

Others warn that while they support the idea conceptually, it will not work. They explain that even with government control, whole wheat bread will be considerably more expensive than today’s standard loaves made from white flour. With government control lifted, the price of standard loaves will increase, as is the case with butter and other items, so families will find themselves unable to afford any bread or basic dairy items.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)