The 10 foods that have SOARED in price due to inflation: Vegetarian mince and chocolate in biggest risers
- Overall inflation is 3% but one food has gone up by 108% in two years
The price of some weekly shop staples has more than doubled in the last two years, data reveals, as fears grow that the Iran war will send them soaring further.
Inflation data released today reveals that the price of a 'representative' basket of goods went up by 3 per cent in the year to February, before the conflict began.
The Office for National Statistics, which crunches the data, monitors the cost of popular items, from bread to tea bags and ballpoint pens.
But price comparison website Compare the Market has revealed that there are ten everyday items where households are being hit by much higher price rises.
Looking over the past two years, rather than one, it found that vegetarian mince had soared most, with a 300g pack going up by 108 per cent since 2024 from £1.25 to £2.60.
Pork sausages were the second biggest riser. A pack of 12 rose by 88.57 per cent to £3.30, up from £1.75 in 2024, driven by higher production costs.
In third was noodle ready meals, for example a Pot Noodle. The snacks have risen from 69p in 2024 to £1.20 today, a surge of 73.91 per cent or 51p.
See below for the full list.
Pricier pots: Noodle ready meals were one of the foods that soared in price the most
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Charlie Evans, of Compare the Market, said: 'Our research shows that protein staples and meat alternatives have been hit particularly hard by inflation, with the cost of vegetarian mince having more than doubled in price over the past two years.
'Pork sausages are also up by nearly 90 per cent. These are core ingredients in many households, so increases at this level can push up the cost of everyday meals.'
However, he said that most price increases were concentrated in snack foods, and that the price of other staples had fallen.
Since 2024, he said a 550g block of cheddar had dropped by 20p to £5.75, while a four-pack of tinned tomatoes was down by 25p.
Evans added: 'By leaning more towards these pantry staples where possible, shoppers may be able to balance out some of the sharper increases identified in the recent analysis.'
The cost of food has risen in part because of higher energy costs. These spiked following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Now, food prices are set to rise even further this summer as costs rise again and supply disruptions caused by the Iran war filter through to supermarket shelves.
Grocery inflation is forecast to increase to 8 per cent by June if global energy markets remain under pressure, according to analysts at the Institute of Grocery Distribution.
Foods that are more expensive: The top 10
1. Vegetarian Mince Alternative (300g)
£2.60, up 108% from £1.25 in 2024
2. Pork Sausages (12 pack)
£3.30, up 88.57% from £1.75 in 2024
3. Noodle Ready Meal (90g)
£1.20, up 73.91% from £0.69 in 2024
4. Tinned Beans (415g)
£1.40, up 40% from £1.00 in 2024
5. Ice Lollies (6 pack)
£2.75, up 37.50% from £2.00 in 2024
6. Chocolate Bar (110g)
£1.75, up 29.63%% from £1.35 in 2024
7. Breakfast Snack Bars
£1.25, up 26.26% from £0.99 in 2024
8. Meal Kits (663g)
£3.75, up 25% from £3.00 in 2024
9. Vegetable Stock (20pcs)
£2.49, up 24.50% from £2.00 in 2024
10. Tinned Soup (400g)
£1.70, up 21.43% from £1.40 in 2024
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