Watch out for illegal price hikes and file complaints

The next time you go grocery shopping, make sure you keep an eye out for illegal price hikes on nine essential food items.

- Hind Aldah

Retailers are required to clearly display the item's true price in big, bold fonts.

(AJANTA PAUL / KHALEEJ TIMES)

To protect consumer rights during the holy month of Ramadan, the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, in collaboration with local entities around the country, will continue its efforts to ensure food prices are not hiked without prior permission.

Issued in 2022, the Ministry’s ‘Pricing Policy for Essential Consumer Goods’ prohibits increasing the prices of nine essential food products — cooking oils, eggs, dairy products, rice, sugar, poultry, legumes, bread, and wheat — without prior approval either from the Ministry or other relevant authorities.

However, if a retailer increases the price of essential goods, inspectors will pause sales of that product until the retailer adjusts the price. Consumers can also play their part in ensuring prices for these items remain stable by submitting formal complaints to the Ministry.