Picanha, prices and politics: What Brazil's favorite steak says about the election

Picanha, prices and politics: What Brazil's favorite steak says about the election RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil—As Brazilians prepare to vote in the first round of the presidential election Sunday, they're weighing sharp differences between the top candidates on security, foreign policy, and the environment. But they're also thinking about kitchen table issues. And if you really want to know how Brazilians feel about the economy, look no further than how often picanha, the country's prized cut of beef, is on the table.

When left-wing president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was campaigning for his current role four years ago, he told voters they would be able to afford picanha again if he were elected. At the time, Brazil's economy was still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.