Cork North Central Workers’ Party candidate, Councillor Ted Tynan, has accused chemists of blatant profiteering on the sale of special food products for coeliacs and others.
Cllr. Tynan was responding to comments from the Irish Pharmacists Union which had said it had no control over its members charging high prices for gluten-free foods sold in pharmacies around the country.
The Workers’ Party candidate has said that with some chemists charging up to €7.50 for a packet of gluten-free pasta and similarly high prices for gluten-free bread products it was time for the government to put a price control on such products.
“Gluten Free foods are not a luxury for coeliacs. If they eat bread and other foods that contain gluten then they become ill. It is items such as this and others which are essential for those who are affected that profiteering takes place. Given the response of the Irish Pharmacists Union and individual pharmacists there is a strong case for the introduction of a maximum price order for such products”, said Cllr. Tynan.
