According to data released by the Czech Statistical Office (CSÚ), Czechs have reduced their food consumption in the past year. Per capita food consumption dropped by 32 kilograms to 739 kilograms annually. Specific foods that saw a decrease in consumption included milk, eggs, meat, fruits, and vegetables. On the other hand, bread, rice, legumes, and beer consumption increased.
“The drop in food consumption per person in 2022, calculated using balancing methods in natural units, demonstrates the limitation of household spending in response to a real wage slump and the so-called ‘essential goods’ area,” said the statisticians.
Changes in the consumption of different types of food indicate households’ efforts to save by adjusting their diets. “As a positive aspect of the whole situation, we can assess more frequent thoughtful shopping, i.e., reducing unnecessary food waste,” added Renata Vodičková, head of the CSÚ’s agricultural and forestry statistics department.
Milk and dairy product consumption, in milk value, decreased by a solid 16 kilograms to nearly 247 kilograms per person. Of the specific items, dairy consumption (yogurts, buttermilk, etc.) dropped the most by one and a half kilos. However, the average quark consumption increased by 0.3 kilograms.
After ten years, the consumption of meat has stopped growing. Year-on-year, consumption decreased by 3.1 kilograms to nearly 83 kilograms per person. Beef and pork saw the same decrease of 0.6 kilograms, while poultry reduced by 1.7 kilograms.
In terms of side dishes, Czechs last year historically consumed the most rice, nine kilograms per person, which is twice as much as in 2010, noted the CSÚ. People also consumed legumes, where consumption reached 3.7 kilograms per person, doubling the value typical in the first half of the ’90s.
Regarding fruit and vegetables, last year, Czechs more often gave up vegetables. While fruit consumption dropped only slightly, by half a kilogram to 50.6 kilograms per person, the drop in vegetable consumption was more significant, at 9.3 kilograms. Thus, one inhabitant consumed 87.4 kilograms.
When it comes to alcohol, Czechs increased their beer consumption year-on-year by 7.4 liters to nearly 143 liters per person. The consumption of pure alcohol remained stagnant (9.7 liters).