Translated
Argentines Turn to Donkey Meat Amid Economic Crisis
As beef prices continue to rise, Argentines are looking for alternatives
The rapid rise in beef prices in Argentina, amid the economic crisis under Javier Milei’s administration, has led consumers to replace beef with cheaper alternatives, such as donkey meat, which is beginning to gain ground in the market. According to a report by Página/12, the price hike has turned beef into a luxury item in the country, dashing campaign promises to lower prices and profoundly altering the population’s eating habits.
In recent months, prices have risen sharply, with increases of over 10% in just one month, and the price of beef often exceeding 25,000 pesos per kilo. Faced with this situation, families have begun to cut back on consumption, initially switching to chicken and pork—options that have also become more expensive—and later to even cheaper foods, such as eggs.
The economic crisis is part of a broader context of persistent inflation. According to the National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (Indec), the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 3.4% in March, up from 2.9% in February, marking the highest level in a year. Over the past 12 months, inflation has reached 32.6%.
Since taking office in December 2023, Javier Milei has implemented a broad program of economic reforms. Among the measures are the halting of federal construction projects and the suspension of transfers to the provinces, as well as the withdrawal of subsidies in areas such as energy, transportation, and essential services, which has contributed to rising consumer prices.
Amid rising prices, a proposal emerged to sell donkey meat, priced at around 7,500 pesos per kilo. Butcher Gonzalo Moreira, from Buenos Aires, described the crisis’s impact on the industry. “We’re facing a major recession. I don’t know a single merchant who isn’t struggling. The industry is under a lot of pressure, even without major price fluctuations. Everything is paid for with a card, pushed forward,” he told Radio 750.
He also highlighted changes in consumer behavior: “And food is also starting to be paid for in installments. We’re reorganizing our sales. People have stopped buying beef, which has seen a drop of about 20% in purchases, and have switched to pork or chicken. A kilo of beef costs between 15,000 and 18,000 pesos. Pork, on the other hand, costs between 8,000 and 9,000 pesos.”
Regarding donkey meat, Moreira acknowledged the role of this alternative in the face of necessity. “If it’s to meet daily needs, I’m not saying it’s the best… But there are people who at least have access to this type of food,” he said.
He also expressed cultural resistance to its consumption: “I don’t agree. I don’t think I want to eat a donkey. We’re used to eating beef. But if we have to take this in a different direction… Nobody likes to eat rabbit, but people have been eating it their whole lives.”
The initiative was launched by farmer Julio Cittadini, founder of the “Burros Patagones” project. According to him, demand exceeded expectations. “Everything we put up for sale sold out in a day. In a day and a half, there was nothing left,” he reported.
The venture has been authorized by the Chubut Ministry of Production and complies with health regulations, operating as a formal business within the agricultural sector.
They're going to eat Milei. 
