Beef prices are soaring in 2025 while pork remains cheaper. But for many Black communities, pork’s affordability comes with hidden health risks.

Why Beef Prices Are Skyrocketing in 2025

If you’ve been to the grocery store lately, you know beef is more expensive than ever. Ground beef averages over $6 per pound in 2025, while steak prices keep hitting record highs.

Why the spike?

• Shrinking herds: Years of drought and high feed costs forced ranchers to cut cattle numbers.
• Slow recovery: Beef production cycles take years, so supplies can’t bounce back quickly.
• Persistent demand: Despite high prices, Americans continue buying beef, driving prices even higher.

This combination makes beef a luxury protein for many households.

Why Pork Remains More Affordable

Pork prices, by contrast, have only risen modestly—about 1–2% year-over-year. Families struggling with rising grocery costs often turn to pork because:

• Hogs reproduce quickly, allowing supply to adjust faster than cattle.
• Stable supply chains keep pork products flowing into stores.
• Budget-friendly cuts like pork chops, ribs, and bacon remain accessible.

On the surface, pork looks like the smarter financial choice. But affordability hides another issue.

The Hidden Health Costs of Pork

Pork, High Blood Pressure, and Black Communities

Cheaper pork comes with long-term health concerns. Processed pork—like bacon, sausage, and ribs—is high in sodium and fat. Studies link it to hypertension and cardiovascular disease.

Here’s where racial disparities emerge:

• Black adults who consume high levels of ultra-processed foods are 55% more likely to develop hypertension than white adults eating the same foods.
• Pork consumption among Black Americans averages 63 lbs per year, compared to 49 lbs for white Americans.
• Hypertension and related illnesses already disproportionately affect Black communities, making cheap pork a dangerous default.

Food Access, Tradition, and Inequality

For many Black neighborhoods, food deserts and systemic barriers limit access to fresh, affordable alternatives. Historically, pork became central to soul food traditions, but today, reliance on processed pork isn’t about choice—it’s about survival under economic pressure.

In short: pork is cheap at checkout, but costly for long-term health.

Beef vs. Pork: What This Means for Your Wallet and Health

Price 2025 | Record highs | More stable, cheaper
Supply | Shrinking herds, long cycle | Flexible, fast production
Health Risks | Linked to CVD, cancer | High sodium, linked to hypertension
Impact on Black Communities | Less accessible due to cost | More accessible, but tied to disproportionate health burdensFinal Bite

The real “beef with beef” isn’t only the price—it’s how food economics shape health outcomes. For communities where beef is out of reach, pork becomes the fallback. But that fallback carries hidden health costs, especially in Black communities already battling higher rates of hypertension.

Until the U.S. addresses both affordability and access to healthier food options, the grocery store will keep telling a story about more than just meat—it will tell a story about inequality.

👉 Have rising beef prices changed how you shop? Drop your thoughts in the comments—or subscribe for more insights on food, health, and culture.