Grocery staples such as meat, vegetables and cheese are among some of the items that have doubled in price over the last year, according to new figures.
Which? analysed the prices of more than 26,000 products at eight major UK supermarkets - Lidl, Aldi, Morrisons, Asda, Sainsbury's, Tesco, Waitrose and Ocado - in a monthly inflation tracker.
The Mirror reported that the consumer watchdog analysed prices across a three month period to the end of April this year compared to last year. While food items such as milk, butters, spreads and bakery hav begun to fall slightly, other staples are still seeing an increase.
Examples of the highest price rises include Aberdoyle Dairies Natural Cottage Cheese (300g) at Lidl that rose from 67p to £1.34 - making it a 100.9 percent increase. This was followed by Morliny Frankfurters (350g) at Asda that had risen from an average of £1.25 to £2.42 – a 93.8% increase.
A four pack of brown onions at Morrisons rose by 90.8 percent, going from £1.18 to £2.18. Lancashire Farm Natural Bio Yoghurt (1kg), also from Morrisons, saw an 85.3 percent increase, rising from £1.18 to £2.18.
Meanwhile, Tesco's own-label Salmon Tails (260g) rose from £3 to £4.54 – a 51.4% increase.
The consumer expert's inflation tracker also found that, while food prices were rising, food inflation had also begun to ease slightly, falling from 17.2 percent to 17.1 percent in April.
Despite the falling inflation rates, households are still being hit with rising prices across supermarkets own-label ranges which had increased 25 percent in April.
Branded goods also show no signs of changing, as the inflation tracker stayed at 13.8 percent since last month, while regular own-brand food and premium own-brand food inflation decreased slightly.
Which? has since urged the prime minister to take action and challenge supermarket executives to do more in a bid to help customers battle rising prices.
Sue Davies, Which? head of food policy, said: "It’s very alarming to see products such as meat, cheese and vegetables that people rely on still rapidly soaring in price.
"As the Prime Minister gathers supermarket bosses today to discuss the problem of inflation, we urge him to ask supermarkets to commit to do much more This includes stocking budget lines in convenience stores to ensure easy access to basic, affordable food ranges that support a healthy diet, particularly in areas where people are most in need.
"Supermarkets must also provide transparent pricing so people can easily work out which products offer the best value."
How have food prices changed in the last 12 months?
Inflation by food category
- Vegetables - 15.3%
- Meat - 15.0%
- Fresh fruit - 10.2%
- Cheese - 25.5%
- Chilled ready meals - 13.9%
- Yoghurts - 21.8%
- Fish - 16.5%
- Energy drinks - 11.1%
- Bakery - 19.3%
- Cakes and cookies - 19.4%
- Savoury pies and pastries - 16.5%
- Water - 20.3%
- Biscuits - 17.2%
- Butters and spreads - 21.6%
- Carbonates - 12.8%
- Cereals - 16.1%
- Chocolate - 15.1%
- Crisps - 17.7%
- Juice drinks and smoothies - 17.9%
- Milk - 22.9%
Inflation by branded and own-label food
- Branded - 13.8%
- Own-label - 20.2%
- Own-label budget - 25.0%
- Own-label premium - 13.5%
Inflation by supermarket
- Aldi - 22.9%
- Asda - 17.5%
- Lidl - 24.9%
- Morrisons - 18.4%
- Ocado - 11.0%
- Sainsbury's - 14.7%
- Tesco - 14.5%
- Waitrose - 13.1%
