Consumer society reports ‘manipulation’ in yogurt prices, quantities

AMMAN — The Consumer Protection Society (CPS) on Wednesday said it had discovered incidents of “manipulation” in prices and quantities of yogurt.

According to the society’s media consultant, Sahem Abbadi, the CPS has received several complaints over “unjustified tampering with prices of yogurt”.

“We examined the products of some companies and established that they used to sell a plastic yogurt jar of 800g at a cost of JD1 and now have lowered the amount to 750g for the same price,” Abbadi told The Jordan Times.

He noted that the decline in the prices of oil, plastic and milk should prompt companies to lower yogurt prices.

“Prices of fuel derivatives went down by 40 per cent. The prices of plastic and fresh and dried milk are also declining. Companies should consider reducing yogurt prices rather than increasing them.”

Abbadi noted that the CPS will consider launching a yogurt boycott campaign if the companies in question do not improve the quality of their production and prices.

“Yogurt is a staple in each Jordanian household… we appreciate the local industries, but want them to abide by national standards,” he said.

On the other hand, Foodstuff Traders Association President Khalil Haj Tawfiq said the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply should be the body responsible for monitoring prices and protecting consumers.

“We have been asking the ministry for more than a decade now to establish a special unit to observe prices and costs based on a database that takes into account the fluctuation in international and local prices,” he told The Jordan Times.

Haj Tawfiq noted that having such an entity would guarantee the rights of consumers, industrialists and traders.

“Otherwise, local productions can be defamed by any entity without proof,” Haj Tawfiq said.