In the early 20th century, meat supply in Rio de Janeiro was a monopoly of the Empresa de Carnes Verdes, a Federal Government concession. But access to this delicacy was a privilege of few. In a kilo of meat, the most notable cut was that of class: those without resources ended up buying from smugglers.
The product left the Santa Cruz Municipal Slaughterhouse and was distributed through the city's butcher shops. In the early months of 1902, the monopoly concession was close to expiring. And there were plenty of people eyeing that prize. The clash of interests exploded on February 26th, when the door of the Correio da Manhã newspaper's office was found at dawn covered in rotten entrails.
The strong smell gave away the quality of the meat sold by Empresa de Carnes Verdes, but there was no way to prove it. What is certain is that, in the following days, the newspaper covered the case under the headline "Abscessed Liver." The scandal was so big that a lawsuit was even filed with the Civil and Criminal Court, and judge Gama e Souza permanently released the sale of meat.
Until the dismissal of mayor Xavier da Silveira, the humor weekly Tagarela followed and mocked the so-called "fresh meat question."
Tagarela, March 29, 1902, no. 5. National Library Newspaper Archive
Image description: The image is a fragment from an old newspaper or magazine, showing a column of black-and-white text. The spatial layout runs from left to right, beginning with a curved top border and ending with a horizontal line at the bottom. The text is left-aligned and written in Portuguese. The letters are clear and easily legible. There are no colors visible other than black and white. The text mentions "Matadouro" and "Matta d'ouro," references to specific places or people related to the Revolta das Carnes Verdes.Tagarela, April 5, 1902, no. 6. Newspaper Archive of the National Library
Image description: The image is a black-and-white photograph of an old document. In the center, there is handwritten text in Portuguese. The text is arranged vertically, with large, clear letters. On the left, there is a black border that appears to be part of the paper on which the text is written. There are no visible elements besides the text and the black border.Production exploded and was a nightmare for the public health department, which lost control of inspections. To prevent an outbreak of tuberculosis and foot-and-mouth disease resulting from the indiscriminate slaughter of sick animals, the solution was to collect and incinerate suspicious products in circulation - usually those of dubious origin and quality.
The confiscation and destruction of the cheap meat sparked the fury of the population. Carts distributing the goods were looted. And wherever the cavalry showed up, it was met with sticks, stones, and gunshots. Streetcars, rails, and cobblestones became material for barricades. After four days, on March 8th, the situation in the streets was so out of control that Mayor Xavier da Silveira asked to be removed from office.
Tagarela, June 7, 1902, No. 15, Biblioteca Nacional Newspaper Library
Image description: The image is the cover of a humor magazine dated June 7, 1902, titled "Tagarela." The spatial arrangement begins on the left, where there is a caricature drawing of a bearded man, followed by a series of small drawings depicting different characters. In the center, there is a large portrait of a man wearing a suit and holding a book. On the right, there are more drawings and prominent text. The background features details such as signatures and logos.President Campos Sales intervened and decreed the end of the monopoly. Good for competition, bad for the rioters. The market was opened, but inspection became the rule. And, with the clandestine route curbed, within a few days the price of meat skyrocketed.
