Iran’s Health Ministry says milk consumption in the country has dropped to less than half the recommended level, warning of rising nutritional risks amid falling purchasing power and food insecurity.
Ahmad Esmailzadeh, head of the ministry’s Nutrition Improvement Office, said on Sunday that high prices have driven dairy consumption to record lows, while malnutrition, obesity, and vitamin deficiencies are worsening.
He added that the government plans to resume the long-suspended school milk distribution program within two weeks to support children’s nutrition.
Over 120,000 deaths each year in Iran are linked to diet-related illnesses such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity, according to ministry data.
Nearly one in five children is overweight, and up to 70% of Iranians suffer from vitamin D deficiency, Esmailzadeh said.
According to UN Food and Agriculture Organization data, Iran’s per capita dairy consumption fell from 101 kg in 2010 to 70 kg in 2023, less than half the global average.
The decline reflects a broader collapse in household food spending as inflation and sanctions-driven poverty deepen. Meat consumption has dropped 17% over the past decade, and calorie intake has fallen 22% since 2010.
Industry officials say milk exports have surged more than 500% in recent years as domestic demand collapses, following the government’s suspension of free milk distribution in schools during the mid-2010s.
