Fine Gael claims that shoppers are not benefiting from the abolition of the Groceries Order and says that food prices have increased by 10 per cent in 12 months.
The party said price comparisons showed that shoppers were now paying €22.97 for a basket of beef, milk, eggs and vegetables, compared with €20.89 for the same items in 2005.
The claims are based on a fresh food survey the party published last month compared with a similar exercise carried out in 2005.
Denis Naughten, Fine Gael's agriculture and food spokesman, said yesterday that the Government's action in abolishing the Groceries Order, which banned below-cost selling, had failed to ensure that discounts to supermarkets from suppliers were passed on to consumers.
"It is clear from these figures that the Government's attitude to the consumer has been completely dismissive," Mr Naughten said. "We need a balance between protecting consumers from the blatant rip-off of escalating food prices while ensuring that farmers are rewarded fairly for their quality produce."
Fine Gael has also called for a ban on predatory pricing, for official websites giving price comparisons and for a new quality mark for suppliers and retailers.
A spokeswoman for Minister for Enterprise and Trade Micheál Martin said that factors such as increasing fuel costs were adding to inflationary pressure on food prices and that the Minister had consistently said it would take two years before the impact of the abolition would be felt.