Kennedy Urges Shoppers to Buy Liver, Cheaper Cuts
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suggested cheaper beef cuts and liver as alternatives to premium steaks amid grocery cost concerns.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Inflation
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Would you buy liver or cheaper steak cuts to save money on beef?
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recommended shoppers buy liver and cheaper beef cuts instead of premium steaks during an October 16 appearance on HHS's 'The Real Food Show' on YouTube. Kennedy said his favorite steak is ribeye because it has a lot of fat, while pointing to porterhouse steaks as an expensive choice.
Why it matters
The recommendation targets Americans struggling with grocery bills as beef prices continue to climb. Kennedy made a similar remark at an Eat Real Food rally in Austin, Texas, in February.
Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows uncooked beef steaks averaged $12.69 per pound in September, up 3.5% from a year earlier, while round steak averaged $9.84 per pound and boneless sirloin $14.11 per pound. Beef liver is typically priced around $2.50 to $5 per pound for conventional product, but demand for it remains low among most U.S. shoppers.
The players
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Kennedy is the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services and a longtime advocate of food and nutrition policy changes.
The details
Kennedy made the recommendation while discussing the cost of premium beef, suggesting shoppers could find cheaper options elsewhere in the meat department. The remarks came on HHS's 'The Real Food Show' and echoed comments he made earlier at an Austin rally.
Timeline
February 2026: Kennedy made similar cheap-cuts remarks at an Eat Real Food rally in Austin, Texas.
October 16, 2026: Kennedy made ribeye and low-cost cuts remarks on HHS's YouTube show.
September 2026: BLS beef steak price and USDA food plan data were reported.
Inflation Context
The Bureau of Labor Statistics' September average of $12.69 per pound for uncooked beef steaks, a 3.5% year-over-year rise, sets the price backdrop against which Kennedy's suggestion to buy cheaper cuts is framed. Kennedy's advice echoes his February rally remarks, placing the recommendation within an ongoing public debate over beef costs.
With uncooked beef steaks averaging $12.69 per pound, shoppers weighing premium cuts against cheaper options like round steak at $9.84 per pound could see meaningful differences in their monthly grocery bills. Beef liver's conventional price of roughly $2.50 to $5 per pound offers a lower-cost protein choice for households watching their budgets.
The takeaway
Comparing per-pound prices across beef cuts can reveal lower-cost protein options without changing overall meal planning. Households trimming grocery spending may find round steak and other less premium cuts offer a practical alternative to ribeye or porterhouse.
Further reading
For more on how rising grocery costs are tracked, see Inflation coverage across the United States.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Benzinga.
Live Poll
Would you buy liver or cheaper steak cuts to save money on beef?
