Pork beats Viagra, says Argentina's president

Many people in the beef-loving nation reacted with surprise after Cristina Fernandez promoted pork in a speech during which she not only said pork is better than Viagra, but suggested she's personally proven it.

"I didn't know that eating pork improved sexual activity," Ms Fernandez said in a meeting with representatives of the swine industry. "It is much more gratifying to eat some grilled pork than to take Viagra."

She even joked that "it was all good" after she enjoyed some pork with her husband, former President Nestor Kirchner.

"I think they might be right," Ms Fernandez said to a laughing audience.

Argentinians are among the world's biggest consumers of red meat, and most stubbornly reject the idea of replacing beef with chicken, pork or other meats. Seafood is rarely seen on dinner tables.

Ms Fernandez approved subsidies to keep the price of pork low despite inflation, and her government also recently subsidised red meat producers after beef supplies sharply declined.