As economic challenges intensify in Iran, food insecurity and its associated malnutrition consequences have emerged as a serious threat to the health of millions across the country. Recent official data reveals that residents in certain provinces are facing particularly dire circumstances.
Mohammad Esmail Motlaq, head of the Secretariat of the High Council of Food Safety and Security, recently identified eight provinces where residents are at high risk of food insecurity: Sistan and Baluchistan, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad, Ilam, Hormozgan, Bushehr, Khuzestan, Kerman, and Khorasan.
In response to this crisis, Iranian authorities have developed a ‘minimum basket’ program, which outlines the daily and monthly food requirements for maintaining health. The Ministry of Health claims to have compiled this minimum food basket “with the participation of university professors, nutritionists, and experts.” However, Iran’s labor community has repeatedly criticized the program, arguing that it fails to meet the minimum caloric needs of families. Critics suggest that the government has reduced the recommended calorie intake and per capita amounts of high-inflation foods such as meat and rice in this basket.
Despite these concerns, the Supreme Labor Council used the Ministry of Health’s minimum wage guidelines when determining workers’ wages in March 2023, resulting in a mere 27% increase in workers’ rights. This figure falls significantly short of the current inflation rate, leaving minimum wage earners unable to cover even basic expenses like rent.
According to a report from Dunyai Ekhtaz newspaper, a family of three must now spend between 1,200,000 and 2,800,000 tomans per month to purchase a minimum basket of fruits. For a worker earning less than 10 million tomans, this expense is simply unattainable. Consequently, many are forced to forgo fruits and essential vitamins, turning instead to cheaper, less nutritious alternatives.
The impact extends beyond fruits and vegetables. Trade union activists across various sectors report decreased demand for red meat, chicken, eggs, rice, dairy products, and even beans.
Official data paints a grim picture of food security across different provinces:
– In South Khorasan, only 47% of families have safe nutrition, leaving 53% in the unsafe category.
– In Sistan and Baluchistan, a mere 30% of the population enjoys food security, while 70% face insecure nutrition.
– Khuzestan province reports 42% food security and 58% food insecurity.
– In Kerman province, only 16% have safe nutrition, with 74% lacking food security.
Nasser Kalantari, a member of the Children’s Nutrition Association, highlighted the severity of the situation, stating that seven low-income provinces in Iran face year-round food insecurity, lacking access to healthy and sufficient food.
As economic pressures continue to mount, addressing food insecurity and its far-reaching health implications remains a critical challenge for Iran’s policymakers and public health officials. With a significant portion of the population facing food insecurity, urgent and effective interventions are needed to ensure the well-being of Iranians across the country.
