The Times
London, UK
25 May, 2007
Increase in sales of fresh fruit and veg (in the UK) is highest for 20 years
Sales of fresh fruit and vegetables increased by almost 8 per cent last year, the highest annual rise for the past 20 years.
The figures, in the Government’s family food survey, show that official messages encouraging healthy eating appear to be getting through to consumers.
The amount of fruit bought in each household, including sales of pure fruit juice, was up 10 per cent. When people were eating out, sales of fruit were up 9.9 per cent. The high consumption of fruit and juice led to the average intake of vitamin C increasing by almost 7 per cent last year.
English shoppers bought the most fruit, with the biggest consumers in the South West and the lowest in the North East. Northern Ireland ate the lowest amount of fresh fruit and vegetables but consumed the most potatoes and frozen chips.
Sales of sweets and chocolate fell by 7.7 per cent and fizzy soft drinks were down 5.7 per cent across the UK. Beer sales for consumption in the home were down 11 per cent.
The survey showed that people were prepared to pay more for healthy food, with total spending on food and drink up nearly 2 per cent and the equivalent of £34.97 (US$69.37) per person a week.
The average spend on food and drink to be eaten at home was up 2.2 per cent to £23.56 (US$46.73) per person a week, while the amount spent eating out was up 0.7 per cent, at an average of £11.41 (US$22.63) per person.
Shoppers spent an extra 13 per cent on fruit and 5.3 per cent on fish – further proof that the advice by the Food Standards Agency for people to eat two portions of fish a week, including one oily fish such as salmon or mackerel, was being followed. Other trends that revealed shoppers were switching to healthier diets included sales of skimmed milk rising by 3 per cent; yoghurts and fromage frais up 7.3 per cent; fresh chicken up 7.7 per cent; wholemeal bread up 21 per cent and oatmeal and oat products up 32 per cent.
Sales of whole milk fell by 4.4 per cent, processed cheese was down 12 per cent, white bread was down 4.9 per cent and all alcoholic drinks were down 3.1 per cent.
The survey, produced by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, studied the shopping and eating out patterns of 16,085 people in 6,785 households.
The highest spend on alcoholic drinks was in England, mainly in the North West and Yorkshire and the Humber. The lowest alcohol sales were in Northern Ireland.
Londoners spent the most on eating out, with almost 40 per cent of their average weekly food and drink bill going in restaurants, cafés and pubs. The average share of spending on eating out in England was 33 per cent.
Londoners ate the most Indian, Chinese and Thai meals, while Yorkshire and Humberside ate the most fish and chips.
The survey is used by government officials, health chiefs, food manufacturers, supermar-kets and the catering industry to identify consumer trends and to allow formulation of new products.
Food options
— People aged under 30 spend an average of 42 per cent of their food budget on eating out
— Sales of butter are up 8.3 per cent on last year
— 80 per cent of the nation are now eating four or more pieces of fruit or vegetables a day. In 1974 60 per cent of the nation ate three portions a day. The official target is five
— The poorest households drink the least alcohol but have the lowest intake of vitamin C
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/li...icle1837686.ece
Increase in sales of fresh fruit and veg is highest for 20 years
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