"We did everything we could to lower prices" Balas said, "I hope the public understands that." The cause for the price difference according to Balas are special Purim sales in supermarkets in Jewish communities.
This is a change from the previous response from Strauss to the crisis, claiming that retailers in the US promoted certain products due to surplus.
However, consumers posted photos proving that the prices are very similar to prices of US-manufactured non- Kosher chocolate bars. The Israeli chocolate was also sold in an Arab-owned supermarket in the same lower price. In addition, the items are not marked on sale.
A statement from Strauss explained that after the social protest lastsummer, prices of over 50 products were lowered to the minimum, and that additional cuts are not planned.
According to the statement, "Consumers' prices are set by retailers, outside the company's control".
Chairman of the Knesset's Economics Committee Carmel Shama-Hacohen initiated an urgent discussion on the differences between local and export prices of Israeli products.
"I will summon Strauss management to the committee to investigate why the prices of products are cut by half when exported to foreign markets," he said.