While the latest official figures and data from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) show a dramatic decline in meat and dairy consumption in Iran over the past decade, food inflation in the country has again accelerated.

According to the Statistical Center of Iran, food inflation in September hit 58 percent, more than twice that of the same month last year. The report shows that the cost of bread and cereals—the staple of Iranian households—has nearly doubled, and fruit prices have jumped by 75 percent. However, Islamic Republic officials and agencies have consistently manipulated livelihood-related statistics to portray a picture rosier than reality.

In this regard, the Iranian Labour News Agency highlighted that a family whose members eat just one kilogram of red meat per month would burn through a quarter of the average Iranian worker’s salary. Meanwhile, the economic website EcoIran calculated the cost of a minimal basket of essential foods—including bread, grains, meat, dairy, oil, and sugar—showing a 63 percent increase compared to last year.

This rise comes as FAO data indicate that Iranians’ red meat consumption has fallen by 40 percent and dairy consumption by 30 percent over the past decade. Currently,........

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