Inflation impacts the Mexican diet: the excessive increase in prices of fruits and vegetables forces changes in dietary habits.

The daily life of Mexicans is affected by a phenomenon that seems as distant and abstract to many: inflation. However, its effects are felt in every corner of the country, from street food stalls to the busiest markets in the city. The price of fruits and vegetables, essential elements in the Mexican diet, has been severely impacted in the last twelve months, forcing merchants and consumers to modify their consumption habits. Such is the case of David Reyes, a taco provider in Mexico City, who had to ration cilantro, a characteristic ingredient in Mexican cuisine, as its price skyrocketed in recent months. What used to be an essential element in his preparations has now become a luxury that he cannot afford to waste. Magaly López, on the other hand, has had to stop offering chayotes in her produce stand due to the high costs these vegetables have reached. The impact of inflation on the eating habits of Mexicans is evident. Some taquerias and restaurants have stopped including cilantro in their dishes due to its high cost, while households have had to reduce or eliminate the consumption of products like avocado, chayote, or oranges due to their price increases. Consumer inflation in Mexico stood at a concerning 4.98% annually in June, the highest since June 2023, with the most volatile products being the most affected. Gabriela Siller, the director of economic analysis at Grupo Base, highlights that external factors such as instability in oil prices and some grains in the international market have influenced non-core inflation in Mexico. Likewise, the effects of climate change, with droughts and floods, have negatively impacted agricultural production, making products more expensive and passing that burden on to the final consumer. The National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi) reveals that the non-core component of inflation has shown a sustained increase in fruits and vegetables, with a 19.73% increase in the last twelve months. The prices of basic foods like chicken, vegetables, and legumes have experienced significant hikes, leading to a change in consumption patterns among the population. Margarita Morales, a seller in a capital city market, points out that now people buy according to their means and not necessarily what they desire. Professor Jesús Garza from the EGADE Business School at the Tecnológico de Monterrey warns that the rising cost of food is generating significant inflationary pressures, especially in fruits and vegetables, with annual increases of 20%. During Andrés Manuel López Obrador's administration, accumulated inflation in these categories has been significant, with chayote experiencing a 388.5% increase, followed by oranges with 260.7% and guava with 137.6%. Faced with this scenario, processed foods have emerged as a more affordable option for consumers, albeit less healthy. For example, the price of a cube of chicken broth flavoring is more economical than buying the ingredients to make a homemade broth with fresh vegetables. The need to adjust family budgets in the face of rising prices becomes a reality that impacts the population in their daily lives, forcing them to rethink their food choices and adopt savings strategies to cope with an increasingly challenging economy.