Fruits To Beverages: Your Favourite Food Essentials Get Costlier
Image Credit: Shutterstock, Buttermilk is being charged with 5% GST.

The GST rates or Good and Services Tax that was introduced a few years back kept a tax slab on several essential goods and services while exempting others. With the latest revision in the rates, the finance ministry has decided to levy GST on certain newer food items while increasing the slab for the earlier ones. Amongst the things that will get dearer for the public, pre-packaged and labeled foods top the list. 

Given the increase in GST rates, the prices of a lot essential commodities will increase. These include kitchen equipment like knives, forks and spoons as well as food items like mangoes. While raw and fresh mangoes continue to be exempted, various forms of mango like mango pulp has been levied with a 18% GST with effect from 18th July, 2022. Similarly, several milk-based products also see a steep rise in prices as GST rates for curd, lassi, buttermilk as well as paneer are being charged with a 5% GST from this month. 

Source: Shutterstock

Other dairy brands are also revising their pricing schemes which will be revealed shortly. Not just dairy, dried legumes and grains like wheat that come in labeled packs will also be charged with a 5% GST. Meat-eaters might also see a rise in prices as the packaged meats (not frozen) are also levied with the same revised rates. As things get costlier with the new tax slabs, consumers need to budget their consumption to meet the rising prices. MP Shashi Tharoor also shared an interesting whatsapp forward on his social media, talking about the GST on Paneer Butter Masala in a hilarious way.