Romania – Amid rising prices in Romania, people have been reserving Christmas pigs since October. This has been particularly true in areas like Oltenia, where there are waiting lists at local breeders.
Booking pigs early offers a chance to secure lower prices. Conversely, those who postpone their booking until December risk paying significantly higher prices.
“We are scared. Fear has crept into our hearts, we, the residents,” says one customer. This reflects citizens’ concerns about rising prices and the unavailability of meat at affordable prices.
According to local breeders, the price of a live pig per kilogram is now between 15 and 16 lei. Customers also pay 400 to 500 lei in advance to reserve a pig before the holiday.
Pork prices in stores are expected to rise, starting at 20 lei per kilogram. There is also the possibility of a slight increase during the holiday period due to taxes and higher energy bills.
Meanwhile, veterinary inspectors have warned citizens against purchasing pork from unreliable sources. This warning comes after three outbreaks of African swine fever were recorded this year in Dolj County.
This disease is known to have no cure or vaccine. Furthermore, infected meat can remain in the freezer for a long time. This poses a health risk to consumers, according to Digi24.
Under these circumstances, experts advise residents to only buy from reliable sources. Caution should be exercised when purchasing pork for Christmas, especially with rising prices and animal disease outbreaks.
