asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he is aware that factory butter is being sold at supermarkets at 4/6 and 4/7 per lb., when in fact the correct price is 3/- to 3/6 per lb.; and if he can take any action to prevent this butter being sold as delicious butter at an exorbitant price.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Factory Butter Sales in Supermarkets.
12.
The prices at which factory butter may be sold by retail are not subject to official control. They are normally well below the prices charged for creamery butter and are determined by supply and demand and by competition at retail level.
I do not consider that price control is either necessary or desirable in respect of the relatively limited volume of retail sales involved. Factory butter may not of course be described or sold as creamery butter.
Is the Minister aware that it is being sold in the supermarkets as "delicious butter" at 4/6d per lb. when it should be sold for 3/- or 3/6d? The people do not know; it is deliberate deceit.
If the people wish to pay that sort of price for that sort of butter——
They do not know the difference.
——and find it does not live up to its description, surely they have a remedy? The total amount of this sort of butter sold in the country for any purpose in the year is about 200 tons as against 35,000 tons of creamery butter.
It is a lot of butter.