Mall food-court operators have agreed to continue capping the prices of 10 a la carte items for another year despite the cooking gas price being set to rise by 50 satang a month from June.
Santichai Santawanpas, deputy director-general of the Internal Trade Department, said all operators at a meeting yesterday agreed to cooperate with a Commerce Ministry request to help maintain the suggested ceiling price of 20-35 baht for 10 a la carte items including khao man kai (chicken and rice), khao rat kaeng (curry rice), pork noodles and khao kha mu (stewed pork with rice).
The ministry last year announced a suggested ceiling price for the 10 a la carte items and asked for cooperation from food court operators nationwide.
As well, prices of ingredients have not changed much from last year, while space rental remains unchanged for these vendors, Mr Santichai said after meeting with representatives of food court operators at Tesco Lotus, Big C, Makro, Tops Supermarket and Central Department Store.
He said next month's scheduled hike in the cooking gas price will have only a marginal effect on cooked food, as the cost is estimated to rise less than five satang per dish.
Mr Santichai said more importantly, the cost of palm oil, pork and poultry have has dropped.
"Given the overall prospect of food costs, we consider it improper for vendors to raise their food prices now," he said.
The Internal Trade Department also threatened yesterday to take legal action including incarceration against any cooking gas vendors found to be charging more than 10 baht above the suggested price for a 15-kilogramme cylinder.
Vendors failing to comply with the legal requirement are liable to a maximum fine of 140,000 baht and/or seven years in prison.
However, Mr Santichai admitted it will be difficult to control the prices of cooked food sold outside the food courts, as their food and operation costs vary depending on location.
He said in its fight to ease the cost of living, particularly for low-income earners, the Commerce Ministry plans to open more Blue Flag shops nationwide to sell low-priced food and consumer goods.