BARCELONA, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- Pork sales at local markets in Spain have continued as usual despite public concerns over a recent outbreak of African swine fever, with vendors and consumers saying purchasing habits have not been significantly affected.
At Barcelona's Mercado de la Libertad, a municipal market managed by the Municipal Institute of Markets of Barcelona, vendors told Xinhua that daily sales remain stable, as initial questions from customers have eased with the release of more information.
"We are selling as usual. At the beginning, people asked a few questions, but there has been no fear," said pork vendor Manoli Vargas, adding that the outbreak was quickly contained and did not spread beyond the affected area.
Another vendor, Fernanda Arias, said demand remains steady, particularly ahead of the holiday season. "The quality is the same and people keep coming. We haven't had any problems so far," she said, describing the situation as temporary and expressing confidence that it will pass.
According to Mercolleida, Spain's main pork price reference market, the sector remains resilient and capable of managing short-term fluctuations. The situation has been described as "serious but somewhat improved" compared with the initial impact of the outbreak, although pork prices have declined by around 0.20 euros (0.23 U.S. dollars) per kg.
Consumers also reported no change in their purchasing decisions. Maite Olivo Berga, a shopper in Barcelona, said she continues to buy pork for traditional dishes and has no concerns about consumption. "We eat pork as usual. There has never been a problem," she said.
Spanish authorities have stressed that containing the outbreak and preventing new cases remain the top priority, while maintaining normal supply and food safety standards nationwide.
