President Cristina Kirchner met with leaders of the Argentine pork industry, where she offered a glimpse into the intimate life of the country’s most powerful couple, admitting that eating the meat improves sexual activity.
Argentines are the world’s biggest consumers of beef per capita, but the government has sought to promote pork as an alternative in recent years, due to rising steak prices and as a way to diversify the meat industry.
In a bid to convince the public of the merits of this alternative, President Kirchner announced at the meeting: “I’ve just been told something I didn’t know: that eating pork improves your sex life … I’d say it’s a lot nicer to eat a bit of barbecued piglet than take Viagra.”
She went on to admit that she and her husband, former President Nestor Kirchner, had already tested the theory, saying that on a recent trip to Patagonia, they had eaten pork and spent a very satisfying weekend: “The crusty skin of the piglet was excellent; then things went very well that weekend, so it could be true.”
In the televised speech, President Kirchner approved subsidies for the pork industry, in order to keep the price of the meat low, despite inflation. Her government has also recently subsidised red meat producers after beef supplies sharply declined in Argentina.
President Kirchner’s borderline-risqué comments won prominent play on television and radio stations, prompting discussions on whether Argentines should add more pork to their diet. The head of the association of pork producers, Juan Luis Uccelli, supported the presidential remarks, saying that Denmark and Japan have a much more “harmonious” sexual life then the Argentines because they eat a lot of pig meat.
However, the speech also provoked some sceptical responses, including that of Amado Bechara, a specialist in sexual dis-function, who told La Nacion: “There is no study showing that pork meat significantly improves sexual activity.” Nonetheless, President Kirchner made a very valid comment, suggesting, “trying it doesn’t cost anything, so let’s give it a go.”
