Meat has become a luxury: Prices are 2.5 times higher than in the world

Inflation in Turkey has led to a significant increase in food prices , particularly meat prices, which have risen by 1,230 percent in the last five years. Food inflation and challenging economic conditions are increasingly reducing the ability of citizens to afford and eat meat.

Meat has become a luxury for low-income earners, with the price of 1 kilo of ground meat rising to 700 lira. Chops, which cost 2,000 lira per kilo, are nowhere near as expensive.

Prices in Türkiye are 2.5 times higher than the global average. While the global average for a kilogram of meat is $7, in Türkiye it's $17.

According to 2023 data from the European Statistical Office (Eurostat), Turkey topped the list in Europe for those who "cannot afford to eat meat, chicken, or fish every other day." This figure was reported as 39.1% in Türkiye, followed by countries like Romania and Bulgaria with 23.2% and 19.9%, respectively.

While per capita red meat consumption in Türkiye, at 16.6 kilograms per year, falls well short of the global average, according to the OECD-FAO Agriculture Outlook 2024-2033 report, this figure is 34.8 kilograms in OECD countries, 34.5 kilograms in Europe, and 18.1 kilograms globally. A similar pattern is observed in white meat consumption. While per capita white meat consumption in Türkiye is 11.6 kilograms, this figure is recorded as 21.8 kilograms in OECD countries, 17.1 kilograms in Europe, and 10.1 kilograms globally.

Odatv.com