AUSTRALIA | The number of Australians purchasing vegetables, fruit and milk has dropped over the last year, raising national health concerns.
A survey by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has revealed a concerning trend: Australians purchased around 3.9 percent less food than in 2022.
This decrease was observed across all major food groups, with vegetables taking a significant hit, falling 14 grams per person daily. Fruit fell 12 grams, and milk fell 11 grams.
“Each person had 186 grams of vegetables a day in 2022-23, down from 200 grams a day in 2021-22,” said Paul Atyeo, ABS health statistics spokesperson.
“We also went from eating 150 grams of fruit a day during 2022-23 to 138 grams, while milk products fell from 278 to 267 grams.”
Despite the fall in these numbers, consumption rose 30 percent between 2018 and 2023.
These numbers raised numerous concerns about the health and well-being of Australians, especially as the percent of unhealthy alternatives purchased, such as chicken nuggets and energy drinks, increased.
These statistics can be partly attributed to the rising cost of produce, forcing Australians to consume less fresh fruit, vegetables, and dairy to minimise grocery costs.
It is also more common to see ‘junk’ food items on special, whereas produce and milk are less likely to be discontinued.
“Many foods that dropped during 2022-23 are part of longer-term trends. We’re consuming between five and eight percent less cow’s milk, bread and fruit juice per person compared to 2018-19,” said Atyeo.
In 2022, the cumulative Consumer Price Index increased for food and non-alcoholic beverages, totalling 13.9 percent, compared with a 4.9 percent cumulative increase over three years.
Over the past five years, less-healthy options such as potato chips and chocolate have risen from 10 to 16 percent. Cereals and convenience meals also saw an increase of 9 percent.
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