Kabul Residents Shift to Chicken as Meat Consumption Plummets Amid Butcher Scandal

Following the exposure of illicit meat sales in Kabul and the arrest of offending butchers, residents of the city have begun to reduce their meat consumption. Many households are now opting for chicken instead of red meat.

Decrease in Meat Consumption in Kabul After Butchers’ Arrests

Reports indicate a decline in meat consumption in Kabul following the arrests of several butchers selling horse and donkey meat. The Taliban-controlled Kabul municipality recently detained a number of butchers in the fourth security district, who were allegedly substituting halal meat with illegal products.

Zarghona, a resident of the fourth district, noted that her family has significantly cut back on meat consumption, shifting towards purchasing more chicken. She remarked, “We have lost our appetite for meat—who can we trust anymore?” This situation has led some households to buy meat only once or twice a month.

Concerns About Meat Quality

Similarly, Khalid, a resident of the seventh district, mentioned that he now only purchases meat from a trusted butcher. He expressed, “I am even afraid of which animal the meat comes from; I hesitate to buy from other places.” These concerns reflect a growing distrust among the public towards butchers in Kabul.

Meanwhile, some butchers have highlighted the decline in their business and stressed the need not to judge all butchers based on the actions of a few. Qudrat, a butcher in the eighth district, suggested that one effective way to ensure halal meat is to allow butchers to sell the animals with their skin still on.

Kabul Municipality’s Oversight on Halal Meat Sales

The Kabul municipality has assured the public that it continues to monitor the sale of halal meat. Nimatullah Barkhazi, the cultural advisor for the municipality, stated that there has been no illegal meat in the market, and they are closely overseeing this issue. He confirmed, “Citizens can be assured; we are monitoring and will not allow anyone to engage in such practices.”

The price of beef in Kabul is currently approximately 450 Afghanis per kilogram, while mutton is around 480 Afghanis. Moreover, some families have previously been unable to afford meat due to poverty and unemployment.