France's governmental consumer price watchdog announced Tuesday that it launched a nationwide investigation into the soaring food prices in the country.
A spokesperson from the Directorate General for Fair Trading, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) said the investigation would be carried out in six retail chains across the country, with a focus on the prices of 20 staple food products.
The announcement came after French Prime Minister Francois Fill on urged such a probe Monday.
Fillon said food processing factories and retailers were taking advantage of the rises of agricultural produce prices and expanded their profit margin.
He also said the "unjustifiable act" should be blamed for high food prices in France, which are 5 to 30 percent higher than in other European countries.
According to the latest official statistics, average food prices in France rose by 2.8 percent in January year-on-year, registering the biggest hike since May, 1992, and prices of some food products including noodles, flour, eggs and butter saw an even more dramatic hike of 10 percent.
Source: Xinhua
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