The news that there will be a hike in red meat once again revealed that the purchasing power in Turkey continues to decline.
Households, who have not seen red meat on their table for many years, have difficulties in purchasing other animal protein sources.
The recent hikes in chicken meat, fish, delicatessen products, eggs, milk and dairy products are changing the eating and drinking habits in our country.
While the consumption of red meat, which fell 12 kilograms per person in 2019, decreased to 7-8 kilograms in 2020, the data for 2021 has not been shared yet.
When we look at the picture, which is the result of the wrong policies applied in agriculture and animal husbandry, and the deepening of the economic crisis, it is clearly seen that the increase in inflation also affects the public health in Turkey.
Expressing the harms of incomplete consumption of animal protein sources, which is one of the main consumer products, on human health, experts pointed out the economic problems.
“DECREASE PURCHASING POWER RISKS PEOPLE'S HEALTH”
Food Engineer Nurten Sırma pointed out that purchasing power has decreased and food prices have increased.
"While access to food is getting more and more difficult on a global scale, some more problems are added to this problem in Turkey. Opportunism in food products was already a problem in our country. On top of that, as food prices rose, the purchasing power of the citizens began to decline. The increase in the prices of daily minimum food needs such as meat, milk and bread led the citizens to low quality food. This makes it difficult to reach reliable food. In other words, the decrease in purchasing power puts people's health at risk," she said.
“RISK INCREASE IN FOOD PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION”
Nurten Sırma also mentioned the negativities in food production.
"We are in a risky period for both the food producer and the consumer. Now, when citizens find milk, meat and eggs cheap, they start hoarding. Because prices are constantly increasing and people are trying to take precautions on their own. This changes the production balance of the producer. It causes serious problems in some food products, especially in the production of food products containing animal protein. In other words, no matter how we look at it, the risk is increasing both in food production and consumption," she added.
“A SINGLE EGG PRICE APPROXIMATE TO 2 LIRAS”
Nurten Sırma pointed out the consequences of the reduction of animal protein from the table of households.
"Protein is at the forefront of the minimum food consumption products for a healthy diet. In particular, animal protein is the best quality protein source. Consumption of red meat, eggs and white meat is very important. However, each egg was close to 2 Turkish Lira. Whatever adults are, children need to consume animal protein, especially eggs and milk, on a daily basis. The economic crisis is about to take away this right of the child, who has the right to one egg a day. This affects the developmental processes of children. Families are now turning to alternative routes," Sırma said.