Price is the number one limiting factor in how much beef consumers buy
now, according to market research funded through a checkoff paid by United
States farmers and meat packers.
The study surveyed on more than 3,000 consumers on 89 issues.
Rising beef prices in the midst of recession was the biggest issue
consumers mentioned.
Next were health concerns that beef is riskier than other sources of
protein.
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| It's TOO big! |
That may be a factor in why 68 percent said they would definitely or
probably eat more beef if they saw family packs of smaller portion sizes ,
meaning steaks of four to five ounces.
Sixty-eight per cent said they would buy steak meals at restaurants if
the portions were bargain-priced four to five ounces, and 67 per cent said they
would likely buy more beef at the supermarket if they could find expertly-trimmed
steaks in the meat case.
The consumer preference for smaller portions runs counter to the
long-term trend to market heavier-weight and relatively fat cattle for which
packers offer premiums. That's because it's more profitable for farmers to grow the larger cattle and more profitable for packers to process larger carcasses.
They also want the meat heavily marbled to meet consumer preferences for "Angus beef".
