food

Will staffless mini grocery stores flood Hungary? This is how they could work

Stafless grocery stores are getting more and more widespread in Western Europe, but could similar stores open in Hungary in the future when Hungarians do not really like self-service checkouts?

Pénzcentrum.hu scooped up a great demonstration from a Hungarian TikTok user living in Germany about a staffless grocery store. The site also analyses the chances of similar shops spreading to Hungary.

Using a staffless shop

Amazon and Saturday Night Live made a great sketch about the surreality of such shops and how people could react to them. But when such a topic reaches the Hungarian TikTok scene, it all becomes a bit more real.

To enter such stores, people have to swipe their credit cards into the terminal next to the entrance. This way the system knows that a paying customer entered the shop.

Inside apart from the lack of staff, nothing seems different compared to a regular grocery store. In the middle of the store stands the cash desk, which is exactly like a self-service unit in any Hungarian shop. After scanning in the products and paying for them, the door automatically lets people exit.

To prevent shoplifting, apart from using CCTV cameras, the shelves have built-in scales, just like the self-service checkout units. Therefore, if something was taken from the shelf but was not confirmed for purchase, the shop’s security system will know it.

Is this a viable alternative in Hungary?

Pénzcentrum’s survey shows that at least half of the Hungarian population is not comfortable with self-service checkouts in regular stores. Alongside the more nuanced opinions, 40.95 percent of respondents said that they are not willing to use them, or they should even be banned.

Only 36.25 percent of the respondents said that they should be placed in every store or are happy to see them gaining more place in grocery stores.

Hungarian people are reluctant not to use cash, and one of their primary concerns with self-service checkouts is the mandatory use of electrical payment methods. This could severely hinder any plans in the near future to open such staffless grocery stores.

Orbán cabinet considering extending ban on Ukraine farm products if Brussels fails to act

Ukraine and Hungary Cooperation

Hungary is considering extending a newly introduced ban on imports of Ukrainian farm products if Brussels does not implement adequate protections for Hungarian farmers, a government official said on Monday.

Agriculture Minister István Nagy announced on Saturday that Hungary was banning imports of Ukrainian grain, oilseed and other farm products until June 30 to allow time for a “rethink” of European Union measures that have resulted in a glut on local markets.

Responding to an opposition lawmaker in parliament, agriculture ministry state secretary Sándor Farkas said several Ukrainian farm products were being pulled from the market after food safety authority Nébih and other authorities discovered that they contained harmful substances.

The authorities will find and inspect all Ukrainian import products that are suspected to be contaminated, he said.

Hungarian farmers must be protected at all cost, not just in the case of imported grain, but also oil seeds and honey, Farkas added.

As we wrote today, Farm gate prices in Hungary rose by 27.0 percent year-on-year in February, details HERE.

Hollywood celebrity spotted at a Budapest restaurant!

Adrien Brody

Academy award winner American celebrity actor, Adrien Brody celebrated his 50th birthday in the Hungarian capital.

Brody and his family paid a visit to Rosenstein Vendéglő for the special occasion, where he posed for a photo which was later uploaded to the restaurant’s official Facebook page, Telex reports.

Hungarian roots

Adrian Nicholas Brody was born in the United States of America on 14 April 1973 in New York City. His father is of Polish Jewish descent, while his mother, Sylvia Plachy was born in Budapest. Sylvia’s father was a Hungarian aristocrat, which makes Brody ¼ Hungarian.

The actor first came to prominence in 2002, when he starred in the role of Władysław Szpilman in Roman Polanski’s The Pianist. For his performance, Brody was nominated for the Oscar Award for Best Actor, which he won. This makes him the youngest ever to obtain an academy award in the category. Throughout his career, he made appearances in several other successful movies and series as well, such as The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) or the third season of Peaky Blinders (2017).

Brody is currently in the capital for the shooting of his latest production, The Brutalist. The movie tells the story of a Hungarian-born Jewish architect László Tóth, who moves to the USA with his wife to flee Europe, torn apart by WWII. The cast includes numerous other well-known celebrity actors, such as Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, or Joe Alwyn. The movie is an international co-production between the US, the UK and Hungary. Filming began on 16 March, but the release date is unknown for now.

Star-studded customer base

Adrian Brody is not the first international celebrity actor who popped up at Rosenstein Vendéglő. In late July 2022, the star of Dune (2021), Timothée Chalamet also paid a visit to the establishment. So did fellow cast member, Swedish actor Stellan Skarsgård, well known for appearing in hits such as Good Will Hunting (1997), Mamma Mia! (2008), or Pirates of the Caribbean (2006-2007). Other world-class actors such as Willem Dafoe or Mark Ruffalo have also previously made an appearance at the diner.

The Hungarian-Jewish Rosenstein Restaurant was founded by Holocaust survivor Tibor Rosenstein in 1996. Tibor, born in 1943, still works in the kitchen of the facility on a daily basis. However, he leaves the running of the restaurant now to his son, Róbert Rosenstein, seen in the picture with Brody. If you are interested in trying out the cuisine Rosenstein offers, make sure to pay them a visit at Budapest, Mosonyi Street 3, 1087, or visit their official website.

Read also:

Farm gate price rise continues to slow

price-caps-supermarket-vegetables

Farm gate prices in Hungary rose by 27.0 percent year-on-year in February, slowing for the fifth month in a row, the Central Statistical Office (KSH) said on Monday.

Crop prices climbed 16.5 percent, as grain prices increased by 22.3 percent but industrial crop prices fell 6.6 percent, dropping for the first time in close to four years. Vegetable prices increased by 30.2 percent, while fruit prices rose 19.5 percent, KSH said.

The price of livestock and animal products climbed 54.6 percent, as prices for live animals rose 55.6 percent and animal products prices grew by 52.7 percent.

As we wrote a few weeks ago, both Lidl and Spar have announced significant price changes. Which one is cheaper?

Summer tourist season at Lake Balaton is threatened by severe labour shortage

BalaLand new Resort at Lake Balaton with its special kitchen

This year, the Hungarian seaside, one of the most popular summer holiday destinations not only for Hungarians but also for foreigners, is facing again a severe labour shortage. Catering establishments are trying to solve the issue by raising salaries.

Recurring labour shortage

Recruitment has started at Lake Balaton. The region mostly relies on tourism and catering. In the past, the lack of a sufficient workforce had already caused disruption and various problems for both caterers and guests.

The solution: massive salaries

The only way for caterers to solve the issue is to attract workers with high wages. According to rtl.hu, those who take on summer jobs can receive salaries of up to HUF 1 million (EUR 2,700).

Read also:

László Kovács, president of the Hungarian Hospitality Industry Association, confirmed the above-mentioned information. However, he added that the job is both demanding and challenging. It requires working 10-12 hours a day, mostly in the heat, which few people can handle.

Tibor Gyurácz, an expert at the Human Centre, says that chefs are the hardest to find. As a result of the labour shortage, some restaurants may not open at all, or the service might be slower than usual, serving fewer guests.

McDonald’s to open a new restaurant in Hungary!

Hungarians are not less guilty than the rest of the world when it comes to fast food. It is fast, it is at hand, and, thanks to all kinds of additives, it is usually delicious. These are all the reasons why this news is a good one: the construction of the fourth McDonald’s restaurant in Csongrád-Csanád county will soon start in Szentes.

The vacant site on Csongrádi Street is owned by Progress Restaurant Network Ltd., which operates the domestic units of the fast food chain. Construction work could start at any time in the near future, Hódpress reports.

A transformer station has already been completed in the town to supply electricity to the future McDrive.

In December 2021, the local council in Szentes dealt with the issue of McDonald’s. A plan for the installation was made public then, the article says.

Featured image: illustration

Read also:

5 great Hungarian restaurants in Budapest for authentic Hungarian cuisine

Hungarian Restaurant Gundel interior

These are great restaurants in the Hungarian capital, Budapest, if you would like to try authentic Hungarian dishes, such as gulyás, paprikás, and pörkölt.

Every Hungarian family has its own recipes for the typical dishes of Hungarian cuisine and let’s not even go into the debates about whether there should be pasta in halászlé or whether bejgli is best with walnut or poppy seed filling. Szeretlekmagyarország.hu compiled 5 great Hungarian restaurants in Budapest, where anyone can taste dishes in an elegant fashion, prepared just the way a Hungarian grandma would do.

Gléda Vendéglő

Hungarian Restaurant Gléda Vendéglő
Photo: Gléda Vendéglő Facebook

“Our dream was to create a restaurant that represents everything we believe about hospitality. This is our passion. This is Gléda,” say the two owners, János Deli and Sándor Kerekes, about their restaurant.

The restaurant has a modern flare next to the traditional Hungarian dishes such as catfish stew with homemade dumplings and veal paprikás. The chefs also put vegan options on the menu to make everyone feel welcome.

On Thursdays, live music elevates the atmosphere to a new level, but beware: the restaurant is closed on Mondays and Sundays.

Address: 1037, Mikoviny street 2-4.

Gettó Gulyás

Hungarian Restaurant Gettó Gulyás
Photo: Gettó Gulyás Facebook

Gettó Gulyás is in the heart of the party district of Budapest, they call themselves a “Hungarian Stew restaurant”. As the name suggests, they specialise in Hungarian stews. They have 11 different types of stews on their menu, even a vegan one.

The restaurant’s décor fits perfectly with the nearby ruin bars, they even have a couple of street tables to enjoy dinner while in the fresh air. Reservation is highly advised as due to the popular location of the restaurant, it is often full.

Address: 1077, Wesselényi street 18.

Hoppá Bistro

Hungarian Restaurant Hoppá Bistro
Photo: Hoppá Bistro

Hoppá Bistro is a modern Hungarian French restaurant which is featured on the Hungarian Michelin Guide. Sustainability and locally sourced, Hungarian ingredients play an important role in the life of the restaurant, they even serve coffee made from Hungarian coffee beans.

Hoppá proves that it is possible to reimagine Hungarian dishes in a modern, progressive way. Another speciality of the restaurant is that people can have access to their recipes by subscribing to their newsletter.

Address: 1051, Október 6. street 15.

TATI Farm to Table

Hungarian Restaurant TATI Farm to Table
Photo: TATI Farm to Table Facebook

Probably the best example of a Hungarian farm-to-table restaurant in Budapest is TATI, as they have their own farm. They believe in “Hungarian smallholders, local ingredients and enjoying the beauties of the countryside”, while it is their mission to translate this lifestyle for people to enjoy in downtown Budapest.

Their menu is following the seasonal calendar to remain as environmentally friendly as possible, while also keeping traditional Hungarian dishes such as tócsni – a Hungarian variety of hash browns – chicken or catfish paprikás.

Address: 1074, Dohány street 58-62.

Gundel Cafe Patisserie Restaurant

Hungarian Restaurant Gundel
Photo: Gundel Cafe Patisserie Restaurant Facebook

The Gundel was originally opened in 1894 and was recently featured in this article of the oldest Hungarian restaurants that are still open today. The restaurant also operates as a café; therefore, it is an ideal place for breakfast or brunch.

Alongside traditional Hungarian dishes, it also serves THE original Gundel pancake, a famous Hungarian delicacy prepared with a chocolate sauce, walnuts, raisins and a rum filling.

Address: 1146, Gundel Károly street 4.

Why more than a thousand baskets of food are taken out on Easter Sunday in Szeklerland – photos

Csíkszereda food consecration on Easter Sunday

Every Easter Sunday, the largest traditional food consecration in the Carpathian Basin is held in Csíkszereda (Miercurea Ciuc), where thousands of people always gather.

One of the largest Hungarian-inhabited cities in Szeklerland, Csíkszereda, held the traditional Easter Sunday food consecration. The baskets containing ham, eggs, bread, and wine were blessed by retired auxiliary bishop József Tamás.

In 2020, only live streaming was available, while last year, the service was extended to include a cross, with the obligatory wearing of masks and a two-metre distance between the crosses.

Read also:

Shopping in the main chains in Hungary: Easter opening hours of Aldi, Lidl, Tesco

Inflation

On 5 April, we reported the general opening hours of shops in Hungary during the Easter long weekend. Now, we will let you know the opening hours of the main retail chains in Hungary: Lidl, Aldi, Spar, Tesco, Penny, Auchan.

During the four-day long weekend, grocery stores will be open differently than usual, Portfolio reports. The opening hours of shops are regulated by law and most shops will be closed on Friday, Sunday and Monday. Major food chains in Hungary have already published their Easter opening hours.

Easter Monday: public holiday, spring break

In addition to Easter Monday, Good Friday has also been a public holiday in Hungary since 2017, making this holiday a four-day long weekend. The spring break for students starts on Maundy Thursday.

Major grocery chains in Hungary have published their Easter opening hours. Here’s what to look out for before the long weekend.

Lidl – Easter opening hours 2023

  • On 6 April, Maundy Thursday, Lidls will be open as usual.
  • On Good Friday, 7 April, they will be closed.
  • They will be open as usual on Holy Saturday 8 April.
  • On 9 April, Easter Sunday, they will be closed.
  • On 10 April, Easter Monday, they will be closed.
  • The opening hours of Lidl stores in the various municipalities are available here.

Aldi – Easter opening hours 2023

  • On 6 April, Maundy Thursday, they will be open as usual.
  • On Good Friday, 7 April, they will be closed.
  • They will be open as usual on Holy Saturday 8 April.
  • On 9 April, Easter Sunday, they will be closed.
  • On 10 April, Easter Monday, they will be closed.
  • You can find the opening hours of Aldi stores in the different municipalities here.

Spar – Easter opening hours 2023

  • On 6 April, Maundy Thursday, they will be open as usual.
  • On Good Friday, 7 April, they will be closed.
  • They will be open as usual on Holy Saturday 8 April.
  • On 9 April, Easter Sunday, they will be closed.
  • On 10 April, Easter Monday, they will be closed.

SPAR partner and SPAR market stores may have different opening hours, Portfolio warns. You can find the exact opening hours by searching for the specific store on the chain’s website, or check the information leaflets displayed.

The opening hours of Spar stores in different municipalities can be found here.

The OMV Spar Express and Despar stores are exceptions to the closure.

Tesco – Easter opening hours 2023

  • On 6 April, Maundy Thursday, they will be open as usual.
  • On Good Friday, 7 April, they will be closed.
  • They will be open as usual on Holy Saturday 8 April.
  • On 9 April, Easter Sunday, they will be closed.
  • On 10 April, Easter Monday, they will be closed.

The opening hours of Tesco stores in the various towns and cities are available here.

Penny – Easter opening hours 2023

  • On 6 April, Maundy Thursday, they will be open as usual.
  • On Good Friday, 7 April, they will be closed.
  • They will be open as usual on Holy Saturday 8 April.
  • On 9 April, Easter Sunday, they will be closed.
  • On 10 April, Easter Monday, they will be closed.

The opening hours of Penny stores in the various municipalities are available here.

Auchan – Easter opening hours 2023

  • On 6 April, Maundy Thursday, they will be open as usual.
  • On Good Friday, 7 April, they will be closed.
  • They will be open as usual on Holy Saturday 8 April.
  • On 9 April, Easter Sunday, they will be closed.
  • On 10 April, Easter Monday, they will be closed.

On 7, 9 and 10 April, deliveries from Auchan’s Online Store will also be suspended.

The opening hours of Auchan stores in the various municipalities are available here.

Find our most recent articles in connection with Easter in Hungary below:

Toxic substance found in Belgian chocolate available in the EU

chocolate

Cachet brand almond dark chocolate made with 72 percent cocoa is being recalled because it contains poison, MTI reports, citing a statement by the National Food Chain Safety Office (Nébih).

The office asks customers not to consume the 100-gram package of products with batch number L22343, which has a best-before date of 9 March 2024, because it contains aflatoxin above the limit.

Even very small amounts of aflatoxins are toxic, hepatotoxic, carcinogenic, and harmful to the cells’ hereditary material and the body’s defence system. In large quantities, they can cause acute poisoning with rapid onset and severe liver failure leading to death.

Children and people suffering from hepatitis B virus liver inflammation are particularly vulnerable to these toxins.

The sweets from Belgium are produced by Kim’s Chocolates (Belgium) and distributed by Brand Mix Kft. (Budapest). The product has been notified from Belgium through the European Union’s Food and Feed Safety Alert System (RASFF).

Read also:

Brutal Easter promotions in these Hungarian shops: don’t miss them!

store

In addition to promotions, retail chains in Hungary are trying to compete with each other with other special measures. Some are raising the limit on price-capped products, while others have stocked up on some of the holiday’s bestsellers. Don’t miss these promotions and chances to save money!

Pénzcentrum has taken a look at the best bargains in Hungarian shops right now. With the brutal price rises, it definitely makes a difference where you shop for the holidays.

ALDI

On 29 March, ALDI announced that it has slashed prices on holiday-related products ahead of the Easter period. The price reduction could be as much as 60 percent! The products include bakery products, ham, horseradish, pork shoulder, beer and Hungarian wine.

SPAR

In addition to its weekly updated list of permanently discounted products, Spar also gives special attention to the Easter period. In these days, sales can be up to 30-40 percent higher than on other days. As Márk Maczelka, head of communications, explained, they are offering increased stock levels on holiday-related products, highlighting their private label offer.

TESCO

TESCO’s idea was that in addition to the promotions, they will increase the purchase limit on price-capped products during the Easter period. As for eggs, they even abolished the limit altogether. So, until 8 April, the maximum amount you can buy in one purchase will be 4 litres for sunflower cooking oil in litre packs, 10 kilos for wheat flour, 4 kilos for chicken breast and chicken tail, 6 kilos for pork legs and 12 kilos for potatoes.

LIDL

LIDL announced another big price cut on some products this week. The price reduction could be as much as 29 percent, but on average the products concerned will cost around 10 percent less.

Make sure to look for special offers and promotions

It’s worth checking the special offers magazines before you go shopping for Easter. Earlier, the National Association of the Meat Industry warned Hungarian shoppers well in advance that there could be a 30-40 percent increase in the price of ham compared to a year ago. We wrote about it in detail here. Egg prices have risen even more. Despite the price freeze, they are now almost double the price of last year: in many places, one egg costs as much as HUF 100 (EUR 0.26).

Orbán shared when price caps would be abolished in Hungary

price-caps-supermarket-vegetables

The government will remove the current price caps simultaneously with a decrease in the inflation of food prices, the prime minister said on public radio on Friday.

Viktor Orbán said the caps have helped reduce inflation but added that they were an “artificial intervention” in the operation of the market, and had “side effects”. “That is why it is good if the caps disappear from the system and the market returns to its regular operations,” he said. As long as inflation is high, the caps cannot be removed, he added.

Orbán suggested that similarly to the food price caps, the caps applying to bank loans could also be removed. Concerning bank loans, he added that “we introduced all kinds of protective mechanisms but those could even cause problems in normal times”.

The prime minister added, however, that the caps on household utility prices would be maintained.

“When inflation drops under a certain level, measures introduced to rein in high inflation could be removed in a timely manner,” Orbán said.

Orbán: Pro-peace proposal applies to ceasefire

Viktor Orbán also said that Hungary’s pro-peace proposal applies to a ceasefire. The Hungarian parliament is passing a resolution which states that it maintains the position demanding peace and a ceasefire, he said.

“The Hungarian position is not about what type of peace treaty should be signed but about demanding a ceasefire,” he added.

A ceasefire must be achieved, preventing further deaths, he said. Once there is a ceasefire, there is a chance for preparing the framework for peace talks, he added.

World war is a ‘realistic threat’

The war in Ukraine is “worrying and dangerous” for Hungary and “the threat of a world war is no literary exaggeration”, Viktor Orbán said. Orbán said “more and more decisions are passed on using ever newer and stronger weapons” and “the West provides Ukraine with more and more modern equipment”.

While “it could sound extremely exaggerating when some European and American leaders say that if all goes on like this we could arrive at the third world war, it is a realistic danger at the moment”.

“The war is becoming increasingly bloody and brutal, yet the number of European countries and leaders supporting peace is not on the increase at all,” Orbán said.

At the same time, “European people have … started moving towards a ceasefire and peace talks as the number of victims is increasing,” he said.

Read also:

Significant price reductions by Lidl and Spar in Hungary! Which one is cheaper?

food store spar inflation price hungary (2)

Both Lidl and Spar have announced significant price changes. Starting this week, bakery products, rice, flour, dry pasta, muesli, oatmeal and baking powder are all cheaper at Spar. Meanwhile, at Lidl, some items can be purchased with up to a 29 percent discount, but on average the affected products cost around 10 percent less.

Food inflation is the highest in Hungary

According to the latest February data by KSH, food inflation still remains at 43.3 percent. Therefore, customers are getting more price-conscious when it comes to grocery shopping. In response to this, stores decided to use effective means to enable small and large purchases that take less of a toll on the family budgets.

Food price reduction at SPAR Hungary

In order to be able to plan purchases at the most favourable price, Spar reduces the prices of an increasing number of products weekly within the framework of the price fall promotion. The list of almost 400 products is expanded every Monday, and the new consumer price of the products and the deadline of the promotion are also highlighted in the online flyer. Index has collected the latest discounted products:

  • baked goods (bread, pastries) by 6–16 percent
  • rice, semolina, wheat flour by between 5 and 7 percent
  • dry pasta by 5–10 percent
  • muesli and oatmeal between 5 and 9 percent
  • baking powder and vanillin sugar by 7 percent

On average, products cost 10 percent less by Lidl

In response to consumer demands and market changes, Lidl began to continuously reduce prices from the beginning of the year, writes pénzcentrum.hu. The discount rate can reach up to 29 percent, but in many cases, the prices dropped by more than 20 percent. For example, for 1 kg of Pilos Trappist cheese, instead of the previous HUF 3,890 (EUR 10,11), you have to pay HUF 2,990 (EUR 7,77). Also noteworthy are the Chicken Sticks, which have become cheaper by 20 percent, so they now cost only HUF 949 (EUR 2,47) per kilogram. In addition, the 1-kilogram half-brown bread is currently available for HUF 689 (EUR 1,79).

The department store chain also tries to support its customers in many other ways so that they can do their shopping at the most favorable price possible. In addition to the promotions that change every week, Lidl’s digital loyalty program, Lidl Plus, offers consumers coupons entitling them to 10-12 discounts, scratch cards and other additional discounts.

food store spar inflation price hungary (2)
Read alsoWhen will food prices decrease in Hungary? Here is what experts say

When will food prices decrease in Hungary? Here is what experts say

food store spar inflation price hungary (2)

Food prices are expected to decrease at least half a year later in Hungary than in Western Europe. According to Eurostat data, food inflation in the European Union was 19 and a half percent in February. Meanwhile, it was 47 percent in Hungary.

Drop in food prices will be felt later in Hungary than in other countries

“If the price cap is abolished, there will be a very serious jump, which will probably cause serious disappointment to customers who are hoping that the current sale will be permanent and that these foods will return to a lower price level,” György Raskó told ATV. The decrease will be felt much later in Hungary compared to other countries.

However, Gergely Gulyás, minister in charge of the Prime Minister’s Office, said that they expect that by June-July-August, the decline in inflation will accelerate rapidly in Hungary. In the meantime, Balázs Csaba Rigó, president of the Economic Competition Office (GVH), initiated the creation of an online price monitoring database at the government, with which they want to prevent overpricing and increase market competition, writes promotions.hu.

Prices are still increasing

The ATV staff bought a food package with the same items they have been buying since autumn. They have been registering and comparing the prices every month. The staff compared the food prices of 10 products and it turned out that the price of two did not change, but the price of eight increased further.

The staff had to pay HUF 2,490 (EUR 6,44) for a kilo of tomatoes in February, and almost HUF 3,000 (EUR 7,76) now. Apples were HUF 349 (EUR 0,90) a month ago, and HUF 399 (EUR 1,03) in March. The price of the twenty dkg pasta did not change, it is HUF 779 (EUR 2,02). The price of eggs did not rise either. A box still costs HUF 1,199 (EUR 3,08).

The price of sour cream, on the other hand, went up by 24 percent, pork parisian by 37 percent, and brown bread by 7 percent compared to the February price. You can buy the 40 dkg butter for HUF 699 (EUR 1,81), the 2.8 percent long-lasting milk for 645 (EUR 1,67), and the 20 dkg cheese for HUF 422 (EUR 1,09).

They paid a total of HUF 6,500 (EUR 16,82) at the end of the shopping trip, which is HUF 400 (EUR 1,04) more than in February.

orbán in brussels
Read alsoWhat happened? PM Orbán agrees to new sanctions against Russia in Brussels

Ice cream prices in Hungary will reach a long-feared milestone

One of Budapest's popular ice cream shop is Gelateria no 7.

Ice cream prices in Hungary will reach a psychological limit this year thanks to the soaring inflation and utility prices.

According to RTL Klub, one scoop of ice cream may reach HUF 500 (EUR 1.3) this year because of inflation and utility prices. Confectioners talking to the Hungarian commercial broadcaster said they were in a trap. They cannot sell their product for more, but with that price, their profits will be low.

Their trade union expects a 10-15 percent general price rise, mostly because of the high utility prices. That rose tenfold in many cases. Furthermore, raw material prices also increased significantly because of inflation. Moreover, some of them come from abroad, which is not helped by the weak forint.

New regulation in Hungarian shops to be implemented on Friday

supermarket store food inflation

The Hungarian government has decided on insect protein foods. The regulation will enter into force in two days, on Friday, 24 March.

The decree of the Minister of Agriculture has been published in the Hungarian Gazette. The regulation amends the rules on food labelling, 24.hu reports. The European Commission recently decided that after the mealworm, the house cricket can also be placed on the market as a food ingredient.

István Nagy had already announced the decision earlier, saying that new foods should be labelled with a warning if they contain insects or their larvae.

Accordingly, the new Regulation will require that non-prepacked food must also contain a label clearly indicating if it contains an insect or its larvae authorised as a novel food. The new requirement will also apply to pre-packaged foods that can be ordered online or sold in shops.

The name of the food containing insect protein will have to be accompanied by the words “Warning! Food contains insect protein” (Figyelem! Az élelmiszer rovarfehérjét tartalmaz!) in a font size at least equal to that used for the name of the product.

Foods containing insect protein must be displayed separately to consumers when placed on the market. The decree will enter into force in two days.

Billions of euros
Read alsoEven Romania is ahead of Hungary in adopting the euro

Caution: Popular yogurt in Hungary may contain mould, don’t eat it!

yogurt food

Due to the possible presence of mould, Danone OIKOS Greek blueberry cheesecake yogurt in four 125-gram packs is being recalled and withdrawn from the market, the National Food Chain Safety Office (Nébih) said.

On Monday, we reported on a type of flour that was withdrawn due to the possible presence of different drugs. Now, the Office asks consumers not to consume the yogurt products that came from Romania with a best-before date of 25 March.

danone oikus yogurt mould nébih
This is what the yogurt looks like. Don’t eat it! Source: Nébih

Product name: ‘Danone OIKOS Görög élőflórás áfonyás sajttorta ízű joghurt’, 4 x 125 g

Brand: Danone OIKOS Greek

Origin of product: Romania

Nature of problem: possible presence of mould

Best-before date: 25. 03. 2023.

Packaging: 4 x 125 g

Budapest M3 Metro Line Arany János
Read alsoWhat is this vintage bench doing in a Budapest M3 metro station?

MEP Gyöngyösi: National food assistance programme to replace price caps

food store spar inflation price hungary (2)
Sponsored content

MEP Márton Gyöngyösi’s (Non-attached) thoughts via press release:

Over the last few months, Hungary has seen inflation sky-rocketing to nearly unprecedented heights and even breaking European records, especially in terms of food products. However, while other EU countries were able to keep the process under control, Hungary seems to have little chance to do so, “thanks” to the Orbán regime’s economic policy copied straight from the Socialist handbook.

The constant two-digit inflation puts a huge burden on every Hungarian citizen, hitting low-income families especially hard.

The Orbán regime has been trying to stop the negative processes by imposing price caps on various products, but these measures just drive inflation even higher, cause constant product shortages and put small retailers out of business.

Jobbik – Conservatives drafted a proposal to immediately lift price caps in order to release some of the inflation pressure, while providing targeted assistance to those in need.

Our new programme focuses on the protection of children and families: the National Food Assistance Programme (NÉP) would provide fair, means-tested support for underprivileged Hungarian families. The programme would allow these families to use assistance that would help them to buy healthy, locally grown and produced Hungarian foods, but would not allow non-eligible citizens (without a real need) to draw down the assistance across the board. As proposed by Jobbik – Conservatives, the programme’s costs could be covered from the HUF 1500 billion of additional, inflation-generated VAT revenue paid into the national budget as the additional tax on the prices driven higher by inflation.

Citizens could be eligible for the assistance as follows: Jobbik proposes to provide a regular, monthly assistance to families living at or below the “poverty threshold” as defined by the Central Statistical Office (HUF 65000/month/person) until inflation is reduced to one digit. Citizens registered for the programme would receive non-cash (and non-cashable) vouchers that could only be used for the purposes defined in the NÉP programme, and every commercial outlet would be obliged to exchange them for the goods identified in the programme. As a possible alternative, the Treasury could transfer the NÉP assistance to an electronic card as well.

The NÉP voucher/card could primarily be used to purchase healthy domestic food, vegetables, fruits, grains, bakery goods, fish, meat and dairy products (it would not be used for buying foods with high salt, sugar and fat content such as chips, sugary soft drinks, alcoholic beverages, energy drinks, tobacco products and other luxury goods), in compliance with the effective regulations on communal catering.

Disclaimer: the sole liability for the opinions stated rests with the author(s). These opinions do not necessarily reflect the official position of the European Parliament.