Inflation And Recession Force Argentine Society To Reduce Beef Consumption

UNSPLASH/Ryan Song ILLUSTRATION

JAKARTA - Argentine people who are accustomed to steak restaurants, large cow farms, andferencing, are now consuming less beef than ever before. They were forced to tighten their spending due to triple-digit inflation and recession.

Consumption of beef fell nearly 16 percent this year in South American countries where beef has always been an important part of the social order, along with football and tea.

Many houses in Argentina have "parrilla" roasters where families gather. steak restaurants are scattered around the corner of the road around Buenos Aires and people will be crowding around the mandate to taste beef.

"Child meat is an integral part of the Argentine people's diet, as if pasta is no longer consumed by Italians," retired Claudia San Martin, 66, told Reuters.

He admitted that he was willing to reduce other purchases such as cleaning products, but beef is something sacred.

"I believe the Argentine people can get rid of anything in difficult times like this. But we can't live without meat," he said.

However, recent data shows that the Argentine people this year consumed beef in the amount of about 44 kilograms (97 pounds) per year, down sharply from more than 52 kilograms last year and as much as 100 kg per year in the 1950s.

Part of this long-term decline is the long-term shift to other meats such as pork and chicken, as well as cheaper staple foods such as pasta.

But this year's decline was driven by inflation of nearly 300 percent and the halted economy as well as the strict savings measures taken by libertarian President Javier Milei.

Poverty increases, more people lose their homes in big cities and queues increase in public kitchens. Many families reduce the consumption of basic commodities, such as meat, milk, and vegetables.

They said they had not felt the benefits of slowing down monthly inflation.

"The current situation is critical. Consumers are making decisions just by thinking about their wallets," said Miguel Schiariti, president of the local meat trading room CICCRA, who estimates meat consumption will remain under pressure.

'Daya buys people lower from month to month.'