Argentines cut back on meat as purchasing power falls under Milei

Meat consumption in Argentina, a country long associated with a deep cultural attachment to beef and the ritual of barbecuing, has fallen to an all-time low, according to reporting from France 24.

The decline is attributed primarily to a sharp drop in purchasing power for many Argentines since President Javier Milei took office, as economic adjustment measures have squeezed household budgets across the country.

Beef has traditionally occupied a central place in Argentine cuisine and social life, with the country historically ranking among the world's largest per-capita consumers of meat and producers of some of its most prized cuts.

The shift away from meat consumption reflects broader changes in household spending patterns as Argentines adjust to reduced disposable income, with many reportedly turning to cheaper protein alternatives or simply reducing overall food spending.

The trend illustrates the tangible, everyday impact of Argentina's economic adjustment on ordinary consumers, even as the government has pursued its broader agenda of fiscal consolidation since Milei took office.