Food prices

Food bills could rocket if controversial European Parliament plans on pesticides get the go ahead. Farmers leaders in the South West are worried that many pesticides could be banned, which in turn will hit yields and add to food production costs, thereby pushing up the cost of food in the shops. One expert tells the Politics Show, South West, that shoppers could end up paying more for things like cereals, potatoes, bread, milk and pork and the price of some foods could even double. Crop protection products axed In the first reading of the proposals, MEP amendments threatened to take up to 85% of crop protection products off the market. But farmers are hoping the proposals will be watered down when the parliament meets again in November. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) ministers also hope... [read full story]