Alarm bells for meat lovers in South Africa

The combination of a reduced supply of beef, the ban on Brazilian chicken imports, and the collapse of chicken producer DayBreak Foods could make meat much more expensive in South Africa. 

This is the warning from Arnold Prinsloo, the CEO of Eskort, one of South Africa’s biggest meat manufacturers, who highlighted the looming food security crisis. 

Prinsloo raised the alarm over what he calls a “perfect storm” for food security, as several events could push the cost of meat beyond the reach of millions.

Firstly, a new case of foot-and-mouth disease has been confirmed at a Gauteng feedlot owned by Karan Beef, the country’s largest beef producer. 

The facility has been placed under quarantine, and slaughter volumes have already been slashed by nearly 75%. 

According to Prinsloo, the disruption could have serious implications for supply and pricing. “If the quarantine is prolonged or the disease spreads, it is possible that the beef supply will contract and prices will rise,” he warned.

Another issue is the recent ban on chicken imports from Brazil, imposed due to an outbreak of avian flu in that country, which is already straining local production. 

Brazil is South Africa’s primary source of mechanically deboned meat (MDM), an essential raw ingredient in low-cost processed meats like polony and Viennas. 

“Some smaller producers have already run out of raw material since the import ban was imposed on 15 May,” Prinsloo said. “This ban alone will impact 400 million low-cost meals per month.”

Compounding the issue is the financial collapse of Daybreak Foods, one of South Africa’s largest integrated poultry producers. 

The company has entered business rescue and recently had to cull 350,000 chicks due to feed shortages. 

Prinsloo added that the crisis at Daybreak will only tighten the squeeze on local chicken supplies and put further pressure on prices.

“We’re facing a situation where meat is going to be more expensive for everyone this winter, but the poorest households will also face hunger and malnutrition,” Prinsloo said.

The situation is urgent

 While some in the poultry industry have downplayed the situation, claiming there’s no imminent shortage, Prinsloo argued that the reality on the ground tells a different story.

“South Africa imports 19,000 tonnes of MDM every month from Brazil, while local producers can only supply 100 tonnes,” he explained. 

“It is disingenuous to suggest that this won’t affect food security. The people who suffer most are those with the fewest affordable choices and the least ability to make their voices heard.”

Prinsloo has joined industry bodies such as the Association of Meat Importers and Exporters (AMIE) and the South African Meat Processors Association in calling Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen to intervene. 

He’s urging the government to narrow the Brazilian import ban to the specific state affected by avian flu rather than imposing it on the entire country. 

“This will allow trade from unaffected regions of Brazil to continue, preserving supply chains, protecting public health and safeguarding thousands of jobs at meat processors,” he said.

The situation is already having a visible impact. AMIE reports that the price of mechanically deboned chicken has surged by 140% since the ban. 

According to Prinsloo, that’s an early warning of a broader food emergency. “The most vulnerable consumers are already being priced out of the market,” he said.

“Every day that goes by with no imports is another nail in the coffin of food security for millions of South Africans.”

Prinsloo stressed that urgent, coordinated action is needed to prevent a full-blown food crisis. 

“This triple threat to our meat supply—disease, disrupted imports, and domestic production failures—demands immediate attention,” he said. 

“We cannot afford to wait until supermarket shelves are empty and prices skyrocket. The time to act is now.”