Healthy food is not more expensive

Six years ago, at Zenith’s Global Beverages Summit in Washington DC, we heard from a White House adviser that healthy food is not more expensive.

This has now been confirmed by the respected UK think tank, the Institute of Economic Affairs.

Comparing prices by edible weight rather than by calorie, it assessed 80 food and drink categories on sale in Tesco and Asda.

The most startling finding was that the recommended 5 portions of fruit and vegetables per day could be bought for as little as £0.30.

Two comparisons amply illustrate the affordability of good health:

• For £1, instead of a cheeseburger, one could buy 7 bananas, 10 apples, 1kg of sweet potatoes, 2kg of carrots or 2.5kg of pasta.

• “A diet of muesli, rice, white meat, fruit and vegetables is much cheaper than a diet of Coco Pops, ready meals, red meat, sugary drinks and fast food.”

It concludes: “The idea that poor nutrition is caused by the high cost of healthy food is simply wrong.”