Food price caps severely impact seniors – farmers selling below cost

The extension of the cap on commercial markups for basic food products until 2026 is creating a critical situation for local producers, with direct implications for the quality and availability of food for seniors.

Romanian farmers are facing a dramatic situation, being forced to sell their products below actual production costs. The dairy sector in particular is going through a major crisis, with producers warning that the current pricing policy is pushing them towards bankruptcy.

This situation directly affects elderly people, who rely heavily on dairy products for the calcium and protein essential to their diet. Milk and its derivatives are fundamental for preventing osteoporosis and maintaining muscle mass in older adults.

Farmers' representatives warn that state intervention in market mechanisms is creating serious distortions that ripple through the entire food supply chain. When producers cannot sustain their production costs, the quality of products inevitably declines.

For seniors living on fixed pension incomes, this situation creates a paradox: although prices may appear controlled through the cap, the risk of inadequate supply or inferior quality increases significantly. Many care homes and home care services could be affected by a potential dairy supply crisis.

Members of Parliament are currently debating the extension of these measures across 17 categories of food products — a decision that will directly influence elderly people's access to basic nutrition in the years ahead.