Santo Domingo. - The soaring price of chicken has made nearly as expensive as pork as never before, spurring many people begin to prefer the red meat.

In the barrios chicken sells for as much as 50 pesos per pound, while pork costs between 50 and 60 pesos, with the plus that many say it doesn’t lose much mass while cooking.

Consumer protection groups blame chicken’s high cost on price gouging along the supply chain, while the Agriculture Ministry affirms that pork’s price hasn’t varied since December.

 One’s pain is another’s gain

 This standoff affects the population as well as vendors who say they’re sustaining losses.

 "I’ve been selling chicken for four years and it’s the first time I see losses. Last week I lost 2,500 pesos," said Sandra Rodriguez, a vendor at the Duarte market quoted by eldia.com.do.

 The same said Bienvenido Germosén, of Lisbett's butcher shop in the sprawling barrio Cristo Rey."I’ve lost it all in this business, now I'm just holding on."