Disappearing Barbecues Show Global Beef Demand Is Under Pressure
Consumers in some of the world’s biggest beef markets are shifting to chicken and lentils.
The Argentine barbecue, or asado, is so tightly woven into the national fabric that even through some of the worst recessions, consumption has proven resilient to belt-tightening.
Photographer: Miguel Mendez/AFP/Getty Images
The world’s consumers have been cutting back on meat eating since the early days of the pandemic. In 2022, the demand hit came for beef, and even as inflation cools, all signs point to continued pressure this year, especially in some of the world’s most carnivorous nations.
It’s not uncommon to see meat buying slide during downturns for the economy. What’s striking is that demand is falling faster in many of the countries where beef has traditionally been the protein of choice. In Brazil, consumption was on its way to a record low in 2022. US shoppers have cut back on purchases by more than 4% in the past year, NielsenIQ data show, while UK sales of beef roasts and steaks have tumbled.