Spokesman of the Iranian Dairy Industries Association: 80% of Dairy Companies Have Shut Down

The spokesman for the Iranian Dairy Products Industries Association has criticized the country's economic policies in recent decades, stating that 800 dairy production companies have gone out of business over the past two decades. Mohammad Reza Bani Taba mentioned that the decrease in dairy consumption in Iran, due to the decline in people's purchasing power, has resulted in losses for producers. Currently, about 100,000 tons of powdered milk are stored, indicating that exporting processed products is also not easy. The spokesman emphasized that the reduction in per capita dairy consumption, attributed to the decline in purchasing power, is a significant issue for the dairy industry today. Supporting this claim, the Deputy Health Minister of Tehran University of Medical Sciences reported on February 10 that dairy consumption among Iranians has decreased by 30%. The Deputy Health Minister of Qazvin University of Medical Sciences also stated on February 4 that economic difficulties are one of the reasons for the decline in per capita dairy consumption. Furthermore, the Deputy Health Minister of Tehran University noted that dairy consumption helps prevent osteoporosis. Alireza Oliayi Manesh also warned about the high salt consumption in Iran, stating that the body's salt needs are only met through bread consumption. The Tehran Chamber of Commerce reported on September 21 this year in a report titled 'Warning Signal for Dairy Consumption' that 'after the removal of preferential currency for animal feed, dairy prices increased, and consumption reached its lowest level in the past ten years.' The prevailing market trends and statistics regarding dairy consumption in Iran indicate that the government's policy of subsidizing animal feed and setting controlled prices for dairy products has not been effective. Accordingly, Reza Bakri, the secretary of the Iranian Dairy Products Industries Association, stated on December 5 of last year: 'People do not have the purchasing power for even controlled-price dairy products.' Media reports indicate that inflation is accelerating under President Raisi's administration; nuts have become inaccessible, and food inflation is 38% higher than the annual inflation rate. There are warnings about the rise of osteoporosis; dairy consumption in Iran has decreased by 30%. The interplay of inflation with public health has led to a decline in dairy consumption in Iran. Workers are facing food poverty, with bread and sugar replacing meat and dairy in their diets.