Food Inflation in Istanbul: Vegetable and Fruit Consumption is Declining

(İSTANBUL) – The research conducted by the Istanbul Planning Agency (İPA) revealed that citizens consume less vegetables and fruits due to the increasing cost of living and the increase in food prices. According to IPA’s data; While the amount of vegetables consumed per capita in the 2017 – 2018 period was 283.1 kilograms, this amount decreased to 261.7 kilograms in the 2022 – 2023 period. While 57 percent of the population consumed fruit once or more every day in 2010, this rate decreased to 36.5 percent in 2022.

According to the post made by Istanbul Planning Agency President Buğra Gökçe on his social media account, while the amount of vegetables consumed per person in the 2017 – 2018 period was 283.1 kg, this amount decreased to 261.7 kg in the 2022 – 2023 period. While 69.4 percent of the population consumed vegetables or salad at least once every day in 2010, this rate decreased to 41.2 percent in 2022. While 57 percent of the population consumed fruit once or more every day in 2010, this rate decreased to 36.5 percent in 2022.

Onion increased from 1 lira 88 kuruş to 17 lira, dried beans increased from 13.7 lira to 84 lira

While 1 kg of onion was 1 lira 88 kurus in the market in January 2021, it became 17 lira in January 2024. In the same period, the price of 1 kg of potatoes increased from 1 lira 88 kuruş to 21 liras, and the price of a kilo of tomatoes increased from 5 liras to 34.9 liras. Due to high inflation, prices of pulses have also started to hurt. While 1 kilogram of rice was 7.6 lira in the market in January 2021, 1 kg of rice reached 48.5 lira in January 2024. During this period, chickpeas increased from 10.3 lira to 76 lira per kilo, and dry beans increased from 13.7 lira to 84 lira per kilo.

Meat products increased by 107.79 percent

According to the report prepared based on data from the Turkish Chamber of Agriculture (TZOB), the annual price increase in meat product groups in 2024 increased by 107.79 percent compared to the previous year. The cost of eating out increased by 106.5 percent compared to the previous year.

Türkiye is one of the countries with the highest food inflation.

IPA President Gökçe’s shares are as follows:

“According to the World Bank research, the country with the highest nominal food inflation is Argentina, followed by Zimbabwe, Turkey, Venezuela, Lebanon, Palestine, Myanmar, Egypt, Sierra Leone and Nigeria, respectively.

According to the research conducted by BİSAM in March 2024, based on TÜİK, Istanbul Halk Ekmek, chain market current prices, the hunger limit for a family of four reached 16 thousand 646 liras. This limit consists only of the family’s food expenses. In other words, the minimum wage is only enough for a family’s food expenses. Istanbulites reduce the type and amount of food products they buy due to food inflation. “Due to food inflation, the number of Istanbulites waiting to leave the neighborhood markets to buy leftover products from the markets is increasing day by day.”

Continuing to take steps like Kent Lokantasi…

Starting from agricultural policies, policies that cause food inflation and restrict our people’s access to food must be changed. Mr. Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, under the chairmanship of Ekrem İmamoğlu, will continue to stand strongly by the people of Istanbul in this difficult period with social aid, market supports and steps such as Kent Restaurant.”