Consumer Rights Association: 40 staple food prices increased 190 percent in one year

Turhan Çakar, President of the Consumer Rights Association, said: “There has never been such a high cost of food in the history of the Republic. The vast majority of consumers cannot access the most basic food, they cannot be fed,” he said, calling for precautions to be taken.

Çakar stated that the average price increase of 40 staple foods in the past year was 190 percent, and most consumers were unable to access the most basic foods and could not have adequate nutrition balanced against cost.

Çakar said in a statement:

“Türkiye is currently experiencing the highest cost of food in the last century. The latest one-year average price increase for 40 staple foods was 190 percent. During the history of the Republic in the last century, such a high increase in prices and average annual costs of basic foods has not been observed.

‘DRY ONIONS ARE ONE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE FOODS’

The most interesting thing about the increase in the average annual price of food is the increase in the average annual price of 659 percent of onions, which is the essential and basic input of kitchen utensils. In this case, consumers had to buy onions not by weight, but by grain. Dried onions have become one of the most expensive consumer staples.

Given this high cost, most consumers cannot access the most basic foods, and do not have a sufficient and balanced diet. Consumers, who have not been able to access meat and meat products or milk and dairy products for a long time, are now left without access to sufficient vegetables and fruits.

‘60.4 PERCENT OF THE POPULATION IS BELOW THE FUNGER LIMIT’

Beginning in March 2023, when we take into account and compare the monthly hunger and poverty statistics for a household of 4 with the average annual family income; It is seen that about 60.4 percent of the population i.e. 51.6 million people are living below the famine limit in Turkey. It is seen that 37.6 percent of the population, that is to say 32 million 150 thousand people, lives below the poverty line. In short, 98 percent of the population, that is, 83 million 750 thousand people, lives below the line of hunger and poverty.

Low-income consumers have been left confused and helpless by the aforementioned price increases and the high cost of basic foods.

Food, agricultural, marketing and price policies must be changed in favor of the overwhelming majority of low-income consumers to ensure consumer access to basic foods. Urgent arrangements must be made to provide free meals to students in public schools. Families with financial difficulties must receive the necessary and sufficient financial support.

Wage and employment policies and all necessary economic and social policies must be implemented in a way that increases the purchasing power of consumers and provides access to basic foods.