Slice after slice, Nick Marziliano is losing money.
The co-owner of Sam's Italian Deli and Market is feeling the pinch of supply
and demand.
"This is not something we'll get adjusted over the next two or three months
because we have a reduction in hogs being slaughtered,"
According to the USDA, as many as 5 percent of the
nation's piglet population has fallen victim to the Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea
Virus.
It is a deadly stomach bug that spreads from feces to the pig's
mouth.
"That's a little scary. I don't want to eat diseased animals,"
said consumer Rene Sanchez.
Agriculture officials say the meat is safe.
The piglets affected, die before going to market.
"I'll still eat pork cause I've eaten it all my life. I
like pork," said consumer Tim Corbin.
The only impact on consumers may be the
price they pay at the register.
According to Marziliano, over the last year, he's had to pay 35
percent more to pork suppliers.
"Are we going to have where you would see items that we would
sell for $5 a pound go to $7?" said Marziliano.
And that means he and other grocers will have to charge their customers more
per pound.
"Seems like when one thing goes up, everything else goes up too. Just gives
everybody an excuse to raise prices on everything else," said Corbin.