Iran’s Escalating Poverty: Families Sacrifice Meat and Dairy for Chicken Tails and Bread

In a troubling report from Tehran, the alarming decline in purchasing power and increasing food insecurity paint a grim picture of life in the Iranian capital. As residents grapple with soaring prices, they are forced to make difficult choices, significantly altering their dietary habits and cutting back on essential food items.

A recent field report by the daily Ham-Mihan surveyed eight districts in Tehran — specifically regions 6, 10, 11, 12, 16, 17, 18, and 19. The findings reveal a distressing trend: families are drastically reducing their purchases of meat, dairy, legumes, and even eggs, leading to empty butcher shops and some closures due to the lack of customers.

According to Ham-Mihan, the sharp increase in food prices has significantly reshaped consumer behavior. As meat prices continue to rise, many are resorting to purchasing chicken tails, which are among the cheapest cuts available. Others opt for just half a chicken breast or a drumstick to stretch their limited budgets. As of early October, the price of beef soared to 900,000 tomans per kilo, prompting a dramatic 30–40 percent drop in sales.

A butcher operating in District 11 shared with the paper that customers holding ration coupons are now prioritizing essentials like rice and cooking oil over meat. He noted, “Even a small purchase uses up their entire coupon.” Shoppers are finding ways to cut costs, such as mixing beef with cheaper cuts like kidney fat, while many have entirely stopped buying meat.

From Eggs to Legumes: Every Item Out of Reach

The report from Ham-Mihan highlights a significant shift towards smaller, more manageable purchases. With a carton of eggs now priced at 200,000 tomans, many consumers opt to buy eggs individually. One shopkeeper remarked, “A customer who used to buy three cartons now takes five eggs. Out of 20 customers, maybe one still buys a full carton.”

The same trend is evident in the legumes market, where prices have skyrocketed to unprecedented levels. Retailers have observed that even wealthier customers are now limiting their purchases to just half a kilo at most. Notably, pinto beans have reached prices as high as 700,000 tomans per kilo, while chickpeas have emerged as the most affordable option.

One grocer commented, “Customers who once bought 100 kilos of rice now buy just one sack,” showcasing the drastic changes in purchasing behavior.

Dairy Shrinks, Bread Replaces Protein

The rising costs have also rendered dairy products unaffordable for the majority of families, pushing them to seek low-quality substitutes. A dairy seller noted, “A customer who used to buy three kilos of Lighvan cheese now takes 40,000 tomans of low-grade ‘chalky’ cheese.” The price of a single carton of cream has reached 66,000 tomans, resulting in a lack of buyers, and even milk often goes unsold until it expires. Another shopkeeper indicated that butter is now being sold by the gram.

The newspaper warns that the decline in both the quality and quantity of food available to Iranian households has spread beyond animal protein to include plant-based sources as well. As people increasingly abandon meat, dairy, and legumes, bread consumption has surged, emerging as the primary source of calories. As the report succinctly puts it, bread has become “a way to fill up, not to be nourished.”

A Nation in Crisis

Once considered a middle-income nation, Iran now faces a severe food crisis where access to nutrition is becoming a luxury. The combination of soaring inflation, stagnant wages, and governmental mismanagement has left millions struggling to afford even the most basic food staples. This situation serves as a stark symbol of how deeply the country’s economic collapse has impacted daily life.

• Purchasing power has drastically fallen, affecting food choices.
• Surveyed areas show a significant decline in meat purchases.
• Basic staples are becoming increasingly unaffordable.
• Families are now buying smaller quantities of food.
• Rising prices have pushed many towards low-quality substitutes.

This ongoing crisis highlights the urgent need for effective solutions to restore economic stability and ensure that every Iranian has access to adequate nutrition. The report from Ham-Mihan serves as a wake-up call to address these pressing issues affecting everyday life in Iran.