Today’s big topic: Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen confronts high prices of food: »We are in a difficult situation in Denmark right now«
Mette Frederiksen (S) is concerned about the rising food prices, which are making it increasingly difficult for many Danes to afford groceries. She intends to take action against this.
What’s happening?
Prices of food are now so high that Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen (Socialdemokratiet, S) is initiating a mapping of the underlying causes. And if anyone is profiteering, action will be taken.
Prices for items such as coffee, chocolate, beef, and butter have risen so much that it’s understandable that people might wonder if someone is profiting excessively from the situation, says Mette Frederiksen (S).
There’s no doubt that buying food in Denmark is expensive. Danish food prices are the second highest in the EU, only surpassed by Luxembourg, according to figures from Statistics Denmark. Danish prices are 19 percent higher than the average for all 27 member states. There’s a significant gap to the next countries on the list, where prices in Ireland, France, Austria, and Malta are 11-12 percent higher than the average.
Why it matters!
Even though Danish food prices are among the highest in the EU already, prices are on the rise. Overall inflation in Denmark is only at 2.3 percent now, but food prices have increased by 5.8 percent over the past year.
The price increases mean that more Danes have to spend more of their monthly salary to get their usual groceries.
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen (S) is very aware of the price increases and wants to help find solutions. She wants to investigate whether there are specific Danish factors contributing to the high food prices.
»I’ve asked our economic ministers to map out: What’s related to the world situation? And what’s specifically related to Denmark?« says Mette Frederiksen.
Still curious? Read the full interview with Mette Frederiksen here.
In other news
– Half of the offers in Danish supermarkets are unhealthy – and this affects our eating habits
A count conducted by the Danish Cancer Society reveals that nearly half of all items in the major supermarket chains’ weekly discount flyers are unhealthy. The count includes 48 ads from eight nationwide chains, spread over three periods in 2024. In total, 5,063 offers were registered – 37 percent were unhealthy foods, including ready-made meals and beverages. If alcohol is included, the number rises to 46 percent.
Read the full article here.
– Ministers must explain the revocation of citizenship
The political involvement in the process that has so far resulted in the 29-year-old woman from Funen, Nadine, having her Danish citizenship revoked needs to be clarified. This is the opinion of Enhedslisten’s citizenship spokesperson, Peder Hvelplund, who, based on Politiken’s articles, has summoned two ministers for a consultation and posed a series of clarifying questions about the actual course of events in the case.
–One of the most far-reaching laws since World War II has come a step closer to reality
The new law paves the way for the government to overlook a number of other laws and legal principles if it involves construction or infrastructure projects deemed significant for national security. A total of ten laws could be overridden under the new legislation, including provisions that otherwise protect nature and the environment or provide citizens with the opportunity to file complaints. The government had extraordinarily summoned the Danish Parliament on Thursday for a first reading of the bill, which cannot wait for the Parliament’s opening in October.
This weekends itinerary
They whip and slap the noodles against the table at Xi’an Xian, and it tastes fantastic.
Where to eat?
In the outskirts of Copenhagen, where the city turns highway, you can taste why hand-pulled noodles from Xi’an in China are considered the best in the world. Xi’an’s food is spiced, but not as spicy as in Sichuan province, and here in our cool ribbon salad, the classic Liang Pi, the texture and the sensation of the noodles’ supple and light structure were just as important as the ethereal sour taste from the vinegar’s spiced, deep, yet subdued aroma. It was excellent.
Read the entire Xi’an Xian critique here.
Looking for something sweet?
Consider visiting Lido. A beautiful café in a dead zone in the middle of Copenhagen, close to Blox and Lille Langebro. Don’t miss the pistachio swirl. A croissant-like airy yet moist treat, perfectly baked so that the butter and filling are caramelized. On top? A sprinkle of crunchy pistachios. This pastry is so satisfying that we both had to close our eyes and simply savor the pleasure.
Read Politiken’s Lido critique here.
What to drink?
The main attraction at Bar Pineau is the wine glass menu, kept very tight: sparkling, white, orange, and red, all at 50 kroner per glass. A price that’s easy to understand.
The best was the white – a German, Kvik – from Christopher Barth, slightly cloudy, somewhat too acidic, and very rustic in expression – a country wine in the best way, not without a certain charm. The kind of drink you have on a gray autumn day to ward off the creeping winter blues.
Read the whole review of Bar Pineau here.
This newsletter features stories originally published in Danish. AI was used to shorten and translate the articles into English, after which a member of the editorial staff reviewed and refined the content.