In Belgium, fruits and vegetables are too expensive for many consumers on a daily basis and therefore VAT on these foods should be abolished, said Greens MP Barbara Krimers, The Brussels Times reported on 6 August.
“Then even low-income citizens will be able to enjoy a varied diet,” she said. With skyrocketing inflation making household items more and more expensive, sticking to a healthy diet is becoming increasingly difficult.
Under EU law, the minimum VAT rate is 5%. In Belgium, VAT is slightly above the EU minimum and is set at 6% on fruits and vegetables.
Creamers notes that about half of the Belgian adult population is overweight. According to the Belgian Ministry of Health, in 2018 almost half of adults aged 18+ (49%) were overweight (BMI ≥ 25) and 16% were obese (BMI ≥ 30).
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Studies show that citizens from lower socioeconomic groups are more prone to obesity. “Dietary diversity by including enough fruits and vegetables is an expensive proposition for many households. Thanks to the abolition of VAT on these products, fruits and vegetables will become more attractive than processed products,” said Krimers. “Prices for fresh vegetables and fruits have risen by 5.8% in recent years. Every year, Belgians spend an average of 950 euros to buy these products.”
A serious problem is the low consumption of fruits and vegetables. In 2019, one in three people (33%) in the EU reported not eating fruits or vegetables daily, and only 12% of the population consumed the recommended 5 or more servings per day.
On average, more than half of the EU population (55%) said they eat between 1 and 4 servings of fruit and vegetables per day, according to the EU statistics office.
