The “CENTURY OF TURKEY” Amidst Hidden Hunger

The “TURKEY SCHOOL MEAL COALITION” has been established to remind the government, which chooses to ignore child hunger, of its duties.

The government, which shouts about the “CENTURY OF TURKEY” on billboards, in advertisements, and on the radio, does not provide a single meal to children in schools. The “Turkey School Meal Coalition” was formed to rebuild pressure, to strongly voice the demand for one meal and clean, drinkable water at all school levels, and to initiate a much stronger struggle.

In Turkey, one in every 3 children suffers from poverty and malnutrition! Since 2021, food prices have increased by 402 percent. Due to deepening poverty and the spread of hidden hunger, our children are facing the danger of hidden hunger. BAYETAV (Foundation for Living Together - Education and Social Research) released its “Hidden Hunger” report on March 2. The situation is dire.

In Turkey, one in 3 children faces the problem of poverty and malnutrition. Despite this, although the Ministry of National Education included providing one meal to kindergarten children in schools in its 2023-2024 academic year program, it later withdrew this decision. To rebuild pressure, to strongly voice the demand for one meal and clean, drinkable water at all school levels, and to initiate a much stronger struggle, the Student Parent Association, TBB, TMMOB Chamber of Food Engineers, Association for Supporting Contemporary Living, BAYETAV, Deep Poverty Network, EĞİTİM-SEN, and EĞİT DER have come together to form the "Turkey School Meal Coalition."

Let us heed the call of the “Turkey School Meal Coalition,” which both published the Turkey Hidden Hunger report and explained its purpose for establishment through a press release.

“Healthy nutrition is a fundamental right of every child. It is the responsibility of the relevant public institutions, primarily the political government. Children should not go hungry at school. Educational institutions must offer children both education and the opportunity for healthy nutrition. We remind Turkey, which has signed the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, that based on the relevant articles of the convention, it is the duty of the social state to provide free, qualified meals and clean drinking water to our children studying in schools at all levels, without discrimination. An urgent “public support-solidarity program” must be implemented for segments experiencing hunger, particularly our children, in relation to poverty.

Free nutrition in public schools should be seen as a primary priority issue. Let us all protect our children's future together. Let us follow up on the work being done. Let us produce solutions together!”

I read the Hidden Hunger Report by BAYETAV (Foundation for Living Together - Education and Social Research). With very striking data, it highlights that Turkey is in the midst of a major food crisis, that our children are the most affected by this, and that the Ministry of National Education urgently needs to initiate a free school meal program for children.

What kind of society do we want? Do we want to raise our children healthily? How much do we care about our children? This is a report that those who govern this country and those who aspire to govern it must read. Kudos to BAYETAV and Bülent Şık for their efforts. The “Hidden Hunger” report also emphasizes that Turkey will face a very serious public health problem in the near future.

“The food crisis most affects the poor segments of society who are unemployed, insecure, or do not have sufficient income. The most fragile and disadvantaged segment among these is children. The food crisis should be seen as a violation of children's right to healthy growth and development. Viewed in this context, providing free nutritional support to children in schools is not a political choice but a necessity.

The most typical negative effects on malnourished children include stunted growth and development, more frequent susceptibility to infectious diseases, and more frequent recourse to treatment services. Among the most typical negative effects of malnutrition on mental health are declines in children's cognitive skills and learning abilities, and a drop in school performance.

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization defines hidden hunger as an uncomfortable or painful physical sensation caused by insufficient dietary energy (calorie) intake. Hunger becomes chronic when a person cannot regularly obtain enough calories (dietary energy) to lead a normal, active, and healthy life. Hidden hunger is the presence of micronutrient deficiencies, especially vitamins and minerals, which can occur without a lack of energy intake as a result of consuming a diet that is energy-dense but nutrient-poor.

Hidden hunger is a problem linked to not consuming high-nutrient foods such as meat, eggs, fish, legumes, and vegetables in sufficient quantity and variety. The most commonly observed micronutrient deficiencies are iron, zinc, iodine, folate, B12, and vitamin A.

Hidden hunger can be observed not only with thinness but also with overweight or obesity problems. At the root of this issue is the insufficient intake of certain nutrients that are very important for growth, development, and maintaining a healthy life through the daily diet, and this insufficient intake is also frequently seen in people experiencing obesity. Obesity is based on a diet of cheap foods that are high in calorie content and poor in nutrient content, and it is a problem more frequently seen in the poor segments of society.

One of the manifestations of inadequate-poor nutrition caused by poverty is thinness, and the other is being overweight.

The food crisis that has marked our country for the last two years can also be evaluated as a child health crisis. A society's negligence, inadequacy, or indifference regarding the provision of the right to food harms children the most. There is an urgent need for a public policy that will ensure the provision of at least one free meal for preschool children and school-age children.

Every parent should support the “Turkey School Meal Coalition.” Because our children are the hope and guarantee of our future!