Serious Eats
Turkey's Pork Shortage (And It's Not 'Cause of the Food Crisis Either)
Eating pork is becoming increasingly popular in Turkey, but perhaps not for the reason you think. The BBC reports that many are blaming Turkey's dwindling pork industry on an Islam-backed agenda by the government, which is now primarily made up of Muslims. Butchers like Lazari Kozmaoglu—who calls himself the last pork butcher in Istanbul—have been around for more than 40 years, slicing and dicing for the locals, are now finding themselves in a tight spot:
Lazari's being prevented from slaughtering pigs and the stock of meat in his freezer is running critically low.
He owns an abattoir but the Agriculture Ministry has refused him a licence to operate it, saying it does not meet strict new regulations.
Curiously, all the other slaughter houses that once dealt with pork have been closed too. Lazari's reluctant to say what he suspects is happening.
"There are only 2,000 Greeks left in Istanbul," he grumbled. "None of us dares speak out." Curiously, all the other slaughter houses that once dealt with pork have been closed too. Lazari's reluctant to say what he suspects is happening.
"There are only 2,000 Greeks left in Istanbul," he grumbled. "None of us dares speak out."
Could Turkey be looking at a pork-less (or at least significantly less pork-ish) future?