Brazilian trades beef for chicken, pork and eggs in the pandemic

With the loss of purchasing power, Brazilians replaced beef with cheaper animal protein options in the pandemic, indicate data released this Thursday (13) by Abras (Brazilian Association of Supermarkets).

According to the entity, per capita consumption (per person) of beef fell by 9.2% from 2019, in the pre-crisis period, to 2021. In the same period, there was a rise in egg consumption (10.9%). pork (9.2%) and chicken (6.6%).

For Marcio Milan, vice president of Abras, the situation can be associated with the high price of beef. “The price of meat went up, the consumer had more restricted income, inflation was in double digits. The consumer made this substitution”, he said.

According to Abras, from the changes in the menu, the per capita consumption of animal protein rose by around 3.6% from 2019 to 2021. The indicator increased from 126.7 kilos to 131.1 kilos. The calculation involves beef, pork, chicken, fish and eggs.

“He [consumidor] did not stop consuming proteins, it even increased consumption”, said Milan.

In the comparison of meats, chicken followed as the most sought after by Brazilians. By rising 6.6%, consumption per person increased from 42.8 kilograms in 2019 to 45.6 kilograms in 2021, according to Abras.

The per capita consumption of beef, by decreasing 9.2% in the same period, went from 30.6 kilos to 27.8 kilos.

Pork came later, even with a 9.2% increase. Per capita consumption jumped from 15.3 kilos to 16.7 kilos. The demand for fish increased from 10.4 kilos per person to 10.5 kilos from 2019 to 2021.

A recent survey carried out by the Shopper Experience consultancy at the request of Apas (Associação Paulista de Supermercados) indicated that meat is one of the items that consumers want to buy in the Black Friday promotions, in November, in supermarkets.

In August, a survey by Asserj (Association of Supermarkets of the State of Rio de Janeiro) had also signaled the intention of resuming consumption by part of the population.

According to this study, beef and milk were the main products that Auxílio Brasil beneficiaries stopped buying and intended to consume again after the benefit was increased to R$600.

During the pandemic, inflation and loss of income led Brazilians to form queues in search of donations of beef bones. In 2020, the first year of the health crisis, the meat group in the IPCA (National Broad Consumer Price Index) accumulated a high of 17.97%, according to the IBGE (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics). The segment mainly includes cuts of cattle, in addition to lamb and pork.

In 2021, the group’s inflation slowed to 8.45%. In the accumulated of 2022, until September, the high of meats is more modest, of 1.27%.