Bureau of Standards Says Don’t Believe Flour Price Hike Rumors
This week there were reports that the price of flour would be going up, or that certain brands were returning to pre-COVID prices. The rumors created a domino effect with some food vendors raising their prices, while others are adopting a wait-and-see attitude. But when News Five checked with the Bureau of Standards this morning, they told us they have not authorized any increases in this commodity. This lead reporter Paul Lopez to wonder if other factors might be causing those burritos or fry jacks to cost a little more right now. As he found out, it’s complicated.
Food Vendor
“What led us to increase the prices is because goods are going up, the flour the onion, the cabbage, the foil. Everything is going up.”
Food Vendor
“I think everyone knows right now that everything is going up. And you know, every time you go to the market, its fifty cents more. Right now the tomatoes deh high, five dollars, four dollars a pound. Sweet pepper gawn up. And, basically in the kitchen, you use everything from vegetables to containers.”
Paul Lopez, Reporting
On June thirtieth the Statistical Institute of Belize reported that prices of foods like vegetables and fruits saw an increase of four point eight percent in the first five months of 2021, when compared to the first five months of 2020. Concerns are now mounting, because on Tuesday, reports began circulating that the prices of an essential commodity, flour, would be going up. However, the Bureau of Standards, responsible for fixing prices, told News Five they have NOT approved any increase in either retail or wholesale prices on locally produced flour. They do not control the price of imported flour. News five spoke with two vendors today to see what type of flour they use most.
Paul Lopez
“Specifically, what flour do you tend to use more often?”
Food Vendor
“Well that is like giving you my secret ingredient.”
Paul Lopez
“Do you use flour that is imported, or flour that is made here?”
Food Vendor
“Well we use some of the imported and some of that is made here. For example we use imported for the flour tortillas and for baking we us the flour from here. The imported, since then it comes in the same price, but since then it is the one here.”
Paul Lopez
“So you have seen an increase in the local produced flour?”
Food Vendor
“Not yet, but I heard it will go up.”
News Five visited three major retail stores in the city to find out if prices on the shelves match the Bureau’s fixed prices. We found that one supermarket sells the Bebe Agua flour for ninety two cents a pound. That same store sells the La Gitana Flour for ninety cents a pound. The second store had the same prices. These match the Bureau’s fixed price for Belize City. Our third stop on the Phillip Goldson Highway revealed that this supermarket is selling the Bebe Agua flour at one dollar a pound, eight cents higher than the Bureau’s fixed price, a clear indication of price gouging. Whether legal price hikes or not, some vendors are seeing a change in what they pay for this crucial ingredient.
Food Vendor
“Sometimes we use, Bola Roja because the flour comes out soft and nice, you know you like your nice flour tortilla. Sometimes you use Gitana.”
Paul Lopez
“Now we know that the Bola Roja is a bit more expensive than the Gitana, why chose to use the more expensive option?”
Food Vendor
“It is because if we use Gitana, sometimes the flour doesn’t come out soft and nice, and the way our customers like it. So we have to do what the costumers like?”
Paul Lopez
“Did you see an increase in the price of flour the last time you went to buy?”
Food Vendor
“Yes, we saw an increase. That is why we decided to raise the burritos and the flour tacos because the flour increase.”
Joshua from Joshua’s Barbeque Joint at the entrance of the Brodies compound on the Phillip Goldson Highway says he has had to adjust his prices, not only because of flour prices, but also because of increasing prices on other food products he uses for his business. La Popular Bakery uses locally produced flour exclusively to make its products. They are looking closely at the flour prices to determine whether any alteration will be made to their prices. But to repeat, as of today, the Belize Bureau of Standards has not approved any increases on the wholesale and retail prices of locally produced flour. If your community food vendors are increasing their prices, they may be taking into consideration the increasing prices of other goods. Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.
