Defra statistics show healthier trends in food purchases
People in the UK are buying more and more fruit and vegetables. The Expenditure and Food Survey, published today, shows that 2005-06 saw the largest increase in purchases in the last twenty years.
The results also show that people are buying less confectionery and soft drinks, and less alcoholic drinks both for the household and in pubs and restaurants.
Household expenditure rose for cheese, eggs and milk, with a continuing switch from whole milk to semi skimmed milk. There was also an increase in intake of fibre.
Jeff Rooker, Minister for Sustainable Food and Farming, said:
“These healthier trends in food purchases are promising, but we cannot be complacent, and must continue to encourage these trends, through healthy eating initiatives, like the 5 a day programme.
“Consumers must remember that the food choices they make can have a big difference not only to their health, but to their environment, and our countryside.”
Comparing 2005-06 with the previous year:
- Quantities of fruit and vegetables, excluding potatoes, purchased for the household were 7.7 per cent higher in 2005-06, continuing an increasing trend.
- Household expenditure rose by 12.9 per cent for fruit and by 6.3 per cent for vegetables, excluding potatoes.
- Quantities of confectionery purchased for the household fell by 6.1 per cent in 2005-06, following small rises in recent years.
- Household expenditure fell by 7.7 per cent for confectionery and by 5.7 per cent for soft drinks.
- Since last year household and eating out consumption of alcoholic drink has dropped by 3.1 per cent
- Households are continuing to switch from whole milk to semi skimmed milk. Quantities of purchases of whole milk decreased by 3.8 per cent in 2005-06 whilst those of semi-skimmed milk increased by 3.3 per cent.
Further information
The statistics are supported by Excel datasets available on the Family Food page of the Defra website at: http://statistics.defra.gov.uk/esg/publications/efs/default.asp
See Family Spending in 2005-06, the report produced by the Office for National Statistics, covering all household expenditure as collected in the Expenditure and Food Survey. http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=361&Pos=1&ColRank=1&Rank=272
Page last modified:
18 January 2007
Page published: 18 January 2007