A local TD believes food price inflation combined with the shrinking of product sizes is a recipe for profiteering.
Deputy Marian Harkin says large multinationals and supermarkets are increasing profits while ordinary consumers are in disbelief at their grocery bills.
The Sligo/Leitrim representative claims some products have contracted in size without a reduction in cost.
She's calling for a food regulator to ensure those in a dominant position within the grocery sector don't abuse their buying power. Deputy Harkin also feels processors should be forced to reveal how much they're paid by retailers.
''We know what farmers are being paid and we know what consumers are paying but there's a big gap in the middle and we need to know where those profit margins are going, that level of transparency isn't there, if you go back to what the ECB said they're talking about price gouging, the ECB is a pretty conservative organisation, they wont talk about it unless its happening.''
