Margarine cans sent by US during Cold War found in eastern Turkey

Canned margarine chests, believed to have been sent by the U.S. nearly 50 years ago as part of the Marshall Aid, have been found in the roof of a school that was heavily damaged by a recent earthquake in the eastern province of Elazığ.

A powerful earthquake centered in Elazığ killed 41 people on Jan. 24, damaged hundreds of buildings, including a primary school complex in Ağın district.

The roof of the primary school building was dismantled by municipal workers after a decision to demolish the complex due to severe damage.
As the rubble cleaning process was continuing, some chests closed in a room attracted the attention of the workers.

When 70 dusty chests that looked like historical artifacts were opened, there were never-consumed cans of margarines inside them believed to be least 50 years old.

Because the building was opened in 1960, it is thought that the cans were sent to Elazığ's Ağın at least 50-60 years ago under the Marshall Plan of the U.S.

The Marshall Plan was an American initiative passed in 1948 for foreign aid to Western Europe and its goal was to rebuild war-torn regions, remove trade barriers, modernize their industries, improve European prosperity and prevent the spread of communism.

Since they are the two countries that best fit this description, Turkey and Greece received weapons and food aid from the U.S. for many years during the Cold War.

But the reason to why these cans were not consumed but stored for half a century in the roof of a school is unkown.

Providing information about the margarine cans found, Mayor Ali Uslu confirmed that the cans are American products.

"It doesn't have a date on it. However, as far as we understand from the explanation on it, it is written that...