“Beef is increasingly seen as a luxury item, with ground beef becoming the primary choice for budget-conscious households still committed to red meat," said Sylvain Charlebois. Photo by Ryan Taplin/The Chronicle Herald/Postmedia files

Canadians looking to grill some burgers and steaks as the summer barbecue season heats up may find themselves paying much more for beef , prompting one food expert to call for an investigation.

Prices for striploin steak are 34.2 per cent higher since January, while top sirloin is up 33.7 per cent, according to Statistics Canada. Pork ribs and chicken breasts are each up 5.9 per cent during the same period.

“For many Canadian families, a summer steak on the grill is starting to feel more like a splurge than a staple,” Sylvain Charlebois, director of t

See Full Page