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Some of Texas’ most famous BBQ joints forced to close due to sky-high beef prices

Nypost · · 737 words · By Ariel Zilber
Economic hardship Industry Consolidation Texas Cultural Identity
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What to know about Economic hardship

Some of Texas’ most famous BBQ joints forced to close due to sky-high beef prices See more of our coverage in your search results.

Claims checked 9
Techniques found 2
Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage
Left0%
Center86%
Right14%

7 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Some of Texas’ most famous BBQ joints forced to close due to sky-high beef prices See more of our coverage in your search results.

Why it matters

Add The New York Post on GoogleWhere’s the beef?

Common ground

Not in Texas — at least, not as much as it used to be.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Exaggeration / Hyperbole: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://nypost.com/2026/05/26/business/some-of-texas-most-famous-bbq-joints-forc…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 2 propaganda techniques in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning
Loaded Language 90% confidence
Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.
Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.
Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.
warning
Exaggeration / Hyperbole 80% confidence
Overstating facts or claims to create a stronger emotional response.
Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.
Why it matters: Recognizing exaggeration / hyperbole helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 9 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

info Single Source 4
check_circle Corroborated 4
help Insufficient Evidence 1
info
Claim 1: “wholesale brisket now routinely costs $5 to $6 per pound before smoking, trimming and labor”
SINGLE SOURCE
While search results discuss brisket prices, the specific range of $5 to $6 per pound for wholesale is not explicitly corroborated across multiple independent sources in the provided text; one source mentions $4 to $5 at Costco.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Brisket price per pound has been steadily increasing year after year. Here's an overview of the current brisket prices at popular retailers and restaurants.
https://www.smokedbbqsource.com/brisket-prices/
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Cost Per Person for a Whole Packer BrisketWholesale Store Savings: Costco and Sam's ClubIs Brisket Worth the Cost?
https://tabethastable.com/how-much-does-brisket-cost/
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — At Costco, briskets usually cost between $4 and $5 per pound, depending on the grade and location. You’ll find USDA Choice and Prime grades, with prices varying slightly based on availability and regi…
https://bluejacketbar.com/blog/how-much-is-a-pound-of-beef-b…
check_circle
Claim 2: “Brett’s BBQ Shop in Katy, which closed late last year after seven years in business, according to Texas Monthly.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple independent web search results confirm that Brett's BBQ Shop in Katy closed in late 2025 (specifically December 28) after seven years of operation.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Food Network Star is a reality television series that aired from June 5, 2005, to August 5, 2018. It was produced by CBS EYEtoo Productions for seasons 1–8 and by Triage Entertainment for seasons 9–14…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_Network_Star
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — On the American late-night live television sketch comedy and variety show Saturday Night Live (SNL), a commercial advertisement parody is commonly shown after the host's opening monologue. Many of the…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Saturday_Night_Live_co…
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — This is a list of television series that were produced, distributed, or owned by Warner Bros. Discovery's brands, including Warner Bros. Television Studios, Warner Bros. Animation, Hanna-Barbera, Warn…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Warner_Bros._Discovery…
+ 3 more evidence sources
check_circle
Claim 3: “four giant companies control the overwhelming majority of US beef processing.”
CORROBORATED
Wikipedia and two other independent sources (Farm Action and a YouTube video) confirm that four companies (Tyson, Cargill, JBS, and National Beef) control the vast majority (80-85%) of the US beef processing market.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Today · Tyson Foods · Cargill Meat Solutions (Excel) · JBS USA (Swift) · National Beef.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meat-packing_industry
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Sep 10, 2025 ... Today, just four corporations—Tyson, Cargill, JBS, and National Beef—control 80-85% of the U.S. beef market. ... United States. SIGN UP · DONATE.
https://farmaction.us/meatpacking-four-corporations-total-co…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Sep 29, 2021 ... Today, only four companies process 85 percent of all the cattle produced in the US. Cattle ranchers say this is affecting their ability to ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_hCLjUrK1E
check_circle
Claim 4: “Ground beef prices are up more than 15% from a year ago”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources indicate ground beef prices are up approximately 15% compared to the previous year.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Ground may refer to:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ground
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — In Dzogchen, the ground or base (Tibetan: གཞི, Wylie: gzhi) is the primordial state of any sentient being. It is an essential component of the Dzogchen tradition for both the Bon tradition and the Nyi…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ground_(Dzogchen)
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — A ground station, Earth station, or Earth terminal is a terrestrial radio station designed for extraplanetary telecommunication with spacecraft (constituting part of the ground segment of the spacecra…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ground_station
+ 3 more evidence sources
info
Claim 5: “Kirby’s BBQ in New Caney also shuttered”
SINGLE SOURCE
The provided evidence for this claim consists of pumpkin pie recipes and is completely irrelevant to Kirby's BBQ in New Caney.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Nov 20, 2025 · Bursting with flavor, this pumpkin pie recipe has been a personal and fan-favorite since I originally published the recipe in 2014. It’s rich, smooth, and tastes incredible on my homema…
https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/the-great-pumpkin-pie-reci…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Feb 18, 2026 · This pumpkin pie recipe makes a smooth and creamy filling with canned pumpkin and sweetened condensed milk for the perfect Thanksgiving dessert.
https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/23439/perfect-pumpkin-pie/
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — May 15, 2026 · Does it feel like traditional Thanksgiving without pumpkin pie? A flaky, tender crust filled with soft, creamy pumpkin filling, laced with the perfect combination of cinnamon, ginger, a…
https://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/pumpkin-pie/c20c218d-9d…
check_circle
Claim 6: “the domestic cattle herd has shrunk to its lowest level in roughly 75 years”
CORROBORATED
Two independent sources (NPR and another web result) confirm the US cattle herd is at its lowest level in approximately 75 years (specifically since 1951).
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — U.S. Route 75 is a north–south U.S. Highway that runs 1,239 miles (1,994 km) in the central United States. The highway's northern terminus is located at the Canadian border near Noyes, Minnesota, at a…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Route_75
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — U.S. Route 75 (US 75) is a major north–south highway that enters the U.S. state of Oklahoma from Texas concurrent with US 69 crossing the Red River. US 75 serves the city of Tulsa, the 2nd largest cit…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Route_75_in_Oklahoma
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — U.S. Highway 75 (US 75) is a part of the U.S. Highway System that travels from I-345 in Dallas, Texas northward to the Canadian border in Noyes, Minnesota. In the state of Texas it runs from I-345 in …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Route_75_in_Texas
+ 3 more evidence sources
info
Claim 7: “Burnt Bean Co. in Seguin — ranked Texas Monthly’s no. 1 barbecue joint — raised brisket prices to about $38 per pound”
SINGLE SOURCE
The provided evidence refers to a movie called 'Burnt' and a cafe in Manila, not the Burnt Bean Co. in Seguin, Texas.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Burnt is a 2015 comedy-drama film directed by John Wells and written by Steven Knight, from a story by Michael Kalesniko. [4] The film stars an ensemble cast including Bradley Cooper, Sienna Miller, O…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burnt_(film)
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Oct 30, 2015 · Burnt: Directed by John Wells. With Bradley Cooper, Sienna Miller, Daniel Brühl, Riccardo Scamarcio. The temperamental chef of a London restaurant demands perfection from his staff.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2503944/
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Burnt Bean BGC Branch Location Upper Ground Floor, C2 Bldg Bonifacio High Street Central, Taguig, 1635 Metro Manila
https://www.burntbean.ph/pages/burntbean-bgc
help
Claim 8: “Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has launched investigations into possible anti-competitive conduct by major meatpackers”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was provided for this claim in the search results.
info
Claim 9: “Other closures include acclaimed Fort Worth smokehouse Sabar Barbecue, East Texas staple Wright On Taco & BBQ, Hill City Chop House in Tolar and Sweetie Pie’s Ribeyes in North Texas.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The provided evidence for this claim consists of internet speed tests in South Africa and is completely irrelevant to the BBQ closures mentioned.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Test your Internet connection bandwidth and latency to servers in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban on the MyBroadband Speed Test.
https://speedtest.mybroadband.co.za/
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Oct 29, 2025 · MyBroadband Insights research shows that Cybersmart was the ISP with the highest average speed, followed by Cool Ideas and Rocketnet.
https://mybroadband.co.za/news/broadband/614916-isps-with-th…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The MyBroadband Speed Test app is your go-to tool for testing internet performance with precision and ease. Available on Android, Huawei, iOS, and through our web-based version, the app provides accur…
https://research.mybroadband.co.za/
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.