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:: Volume 20, Issue 5 (Winter: special issue: Policy Brief 2026) ::
Iranian J Nutr Sci Food Technol 2026, 20(5): 57-61 Back to browse issues page
Development and implementation of a comprehensive policy package to increase per capita consumption of aquatic products in Iran: A necessary step for improving nutritional security and public health
H Farzaneh , D Ghodsi , L Shams , H Eini-Zinab , Arezoo Rezazadeh Sarabi *
, arezoo.rezazadeh@gmail.com
Abstract:   (147 Views)
Background and aims: The per capita supply of aquatic foods in Iran is approximately 30% lower than the global average. Daily aquatic food consumption decreased from 10.4 grams in 2011 to 4.9 grams in 2022 (a compound annual growth rate of -6.9%). The annual cost of continuing this trend—including preventable cardiovascular diseases, reduced workforce productivity, and increased pressure on the healthcare system, amounts to several thousand billion tomans. Each year of delay in policy-making doubles this cost.
Material and Methods: To identify the barriers to aquatic food consumption and provide solutions for increasing consumption, a systematic review, interviews with key informants and community members, and stakeholder analysis were employed. The most frequently reported barriers to aquatic food consumption were, in order: high prices, limited access to standard supply centers, unpleasant taste and odor, presence of bones, and insufficient cooking and preparation skills.
Results: Using TOPSIS to prioritize policy options, five urgent and short-term policy recommendations were proposed: (1) targeted subsidies for vulnerable populations; (2) designation of a "National Fish Consumption Day" accompanied by extensive promotional campaigns; (3) integration of aquatic nutrition concepts into school curricula; (4) establishment of a multi-sectoral task force; and (5) safety improvement and development of the cold chain for aquatic product transportation.
Conclusion: Implementation of these recommendations could serve as a fundamental step toward increasing per capita aquatic food consumption and improving public health in Iran.
Keywords: Aquatic consumption, Policy brief, Iran, Nutritional security, Public health
Full-Text [PDF 340 kb]   (52 Downloads)    
Article type: Brief Policy | Subject: nutrition
Received: 2026/05/24 | Accepted: 2026/01/30 | Published: 2026/06/1
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Farzaneh H, Ghodsi D, Shams L, Eini-Zinab H, Rezazadeh Sarabi A. Development and implementation of a comprehensive policy package to increase per capita consumption of aquatic products in Iran: A necessary step for improving nutritional security and public health. Iranian J Nutr Sci Food Technol 2026; 20 (5) :57-61
URL: http://nsft.sbmu.ac.ir/article-1-4128-en.html


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Volume 20, Issue 5 (Winter: special issue: Policy Brief 2026) Back to browse issues page
Iranian Journal of  Nutrition Sciences and Food  Technology
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