Ahmad Shad, Secretary of the Raw Animal Products Importers Association, has revealed that Iran’s annual red meat consumption has dropped to less than 600,000 tons, significantly lower than previous estimates. In an interview with ILNA news agency on Sunday, September 15, Shad questioned the accuracy of existing consumption statistics, labeling them as unrealistic. “According to unofficial data, meat consumption in the country is estimated to be between 850,000 and 1 million tons per year, but our calculations suggest a lower figure,” he stated.
Decline in Meat Consumption
Shad noted that no reliable statistics are available on meat consumption in Iran. However, estimates based on the volume of imported and slaughtered animals suggest that the annual consumption of both light and heavy red meat now stands at less than 600,000 tons. He added that Iranians had consumed more meat in previous years, but that consumption has been on the decline since 2021.
Meanwhile, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) offers a different perspective. According to FAO estimates, Iranians consumed 335,000 tons of sheep meat and 382,000 tons of beef last year, bringing the total red meat consumption to just under 720,000 tons—slightly higher than Shad’s estimate, but still reflecting a significant drop from earlier years.
Per Capita Consumption Shrinks
Domestic statistics on per capita meat consumption in Iran vary widely. In April of last year, Masoud Rasouli, Secretary of the Meat and Protein Packaging Industry Association, reported that per capita meat consumption had fallen to just four kilograms annually. Some reports in Iranian media have suggested this figure could be as low as three kilograms per person per year.
This marks a dramatic shift from previous years. According to data from the Iran Statistics Center, per capita meat consumption in 2011 was approximately 13 kilograms per year. By 2019, this figure had dropped to eight kilograms. Over the past decade, red meat consumption in Iran has fallen significantly, with per capita consumption decreasing by 35% compared to 2011.
Rising Inflation and Food Insecurity
The sharp decline in meat consumption coincides with soaring inflation rates, with the price of meat leading the way in food inflation. Data from the Iran Statistics Center shows that in August of this year, the inflation rate for food and beverages reached 34.8%. Among food categories, the highest inflation was recorded in the “red meat and poultry” group, which experienced an annual inflation rate of 58.3%.
This inflationary pressure has made red meat increasingly unaffordable for many Iranians, contributing to the steep drop in consumption. The rising cost of living has forced many households to cut back on essential food items, including meat, which has long been a staple of the Iranian diet.
Health Concerns and Warnings
The reduction in meat consumption has raised alarms among nutritionists, who warn of the potential health consequences for the Iranian population. Last year, a former official from the Ministry of Cooperation, Labor, and Social Welfare warned that a “human disaster” was unfolding, citing new statistics pointing to widespread malnutrition among Iranians.
In addition, the Iranian Parliament’s Research Center announced last year that half of the population’s calorie intake in 2022 fell below the recommended standard, further highlighting the growing food insecurity in the country.
The combination of rising inflation, declining meat consumption, and widespread malnutrition paints a grim picture of food insecurity in Iran, particularly as the cost of living continues to rise.
