According to the Rural Families Association, 65 euros would be “enough” for the nine million most vulnerable French people to eat healthy, with a positive impact on their health.
- A healthy diet is recommended for public health issues.
- To eat healthy products, families living at the poverty line need 65 euros.
- The association proposes several essential measures to enable all French people to eat healthily and stay in good health.
It is a small sum but which would change a lot of things for the health of the poorest French people.
While 20 billion euros are spent at “treat pathologies, induced by poor diet, that could be avoided“, indicates the association Rural families, it would miss 7.2 billion euros each year in the monthly budget of families living at the level of the poverty line to eat well. This represents 65 euros per family, according to the association which published for the 16th consecutive year, its Observatory of consumer prices.
Eating well is too expensive
The observation is clear: eating according to the National Health Nutrition Plan (PNNS) which notably recommends eating five fruits and vegetables a day, is too expensive. Due to inflation, food products have increased by 12%according to INSEE, between October 2021 and October 2022, even if this increase is more contained with regard to healthy products for health (+ 8.3%) and + 3.8% for legumes.
Thus, a varied basket costs a family of four (two adults, two children) between 477 euros (for a little varied basket) and 1,179 euros every month, on average. The amount to be paid reaches 734 euros for a basket containing first-price products. It rises to 814 euros for national brands, and 1,179 euros for organic, indicates the association.
Most French people do not yet eat 5 fruits and vegetables a day
Another report drawn up by the association:If since 2001, more than 20 years, consumers hear, read, see this slogan everywhere [celui disant de manger cinq fruits et légumes par jour]the observation is that they have not integrated it into their food practices.”
Rural Families is based on the latest study on the subject conducted by the Credoc (in 2019) which reveals that although in ten years, the number of people complying with this recommendation has increased by 4 points (both among children and adults), only 32% of adults and 10% of children comply with this recommendation. And no socio-professional category is irreproachable.
In addition to offering a monthly allowance of 65 euros for low-income households, the association therefore appeals to everyone’s responsibility. That of the government, which must invest in an ambitious plan around the “eat better“both in metropolitan France and overseas, and that of the consumers who should be”better support in order to see them adopt the right reflexes both for their health and in the interest of future generations“, writes the association.
