Kerala: Beef slowly going off hotel menus in the state

The ban on sale of beef in some states and the big debate on whether one should eat beef or not has hit Kerala now. The state is one of the highest consumers of beef with annual sale of the meat estimated at about 2.3 lakh metric tonnes. Now, however many hotels are reportedly taking beef off their menu.

A report in Deccan Chronicle states that the drastic increase in the price of beef is the reason for this. Earlier, the price of one kg of beef was about Rs 200 but now it is anywhere between Rs 300 to Rs 350. The reason for the steep increase in price is said to be the rise in transportation cost and the state-government imposed value-added tax on the meat.

According to members of the Kerala Cattle and Meat Merchants' Welfare Association, there is now a restriction on the transportation of cattle. A truck cannot carry more than 8 to 10 cattle which has increased their transportation costs. The price of cattle is also said to have increased in other states.