In the wake of recent media coverage and conversation around beef safety, demand for ground beef remains high. An April survey of nearly 1,000 beef eaters affirms that consumers love ground beef because it is great for grilling, it's an affordable source of important nutrients and it makes an affordable, great tasting family meal. The survey also found that consumers are not reducing ground beef consumption because of concerns about "pink slime."

Ground beef continues to be a top-selling beef item and according to economic modeling shared by Iowa State University, there won't be a significant impact on price. The Iowa State economists report that a 1 percent change in available beef supply results in a 1.33 percent increase in retail prices. Therefore, the overall impact on retail beef prices would be 1.6 percent. That's about $.06/lb. based on the $3.47/lb. estimated Feb. 2012 average price for ground beef in retail.

With this in mind, retailers should emphasize beef's value and nutrition to maintain ground beef sales throughout the key summer grilling season. Your shoppers can continue to feel good about choosing beef for its great taste, wholesomeness and versatility and we encourage you to continue to dispel the myths about this product and communicate the beef industry's commitment to providing the safest food possible.

If you have questions about the resources that currently exist and how to leverage them in specific situations, please contact our Account Development Team.

New Checkoff-funded research found that 94 percent of U.S. consumers say they eat ground beef and that they are frequent eaters of ground beef dishes: 43 percent eat ground beef at home twice a week or more and 67 percent prepare a ground beef dish at least once a week. Consumers value lean ground beef and think it is worth the cost and view ground beef as an affordable, nutritious, low-fat meal.