EU told to tackle food cost differences across the bloc

Brussels: Eight EU states urged Brussels on Friday to clamp down on multinational giants unfairly limiting the sale of products within the bloc, forci...

Brussels: Eight EU states urged Brussels on Friday to clamp down on multinational giants unfairly limiting the sale of products within the bloc, forcing European consumers to pay more.

Their call comes a day after the European Commission slapped a 337.5-million-euro ($366-million) antitrust fine on Mondelez, the US confectioner behind major brands including Toblerone and Oreo, for restricting cross-border sales of chocolate.

The cost of living is a hot topic ahead of EU-wide elections in June as European households have been hit hard by soaring consumer prices following the coronavirus pandemic and Russia's war on Ukraine.

Inflation has slowed down since its peak in late 2022 but food costs remain high. Several EU countries believe addressing unfairness in the single market is one way to help struggling consumers.

Eight EU governments led by the Netherlands said there are price differences for the same products within the European Union and Brussels "should take action" if it was because big multinationals were limiting the sale of goods in the EU's single market.