Recent data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) indicates a notable shift in the eating habits of Australians, as they are consuming more meat and reducing their chocolate intake compared to previous years. In 2023-24, overall meat consumption rose by 2.3% from the previous year. This increase included a significant 13% uptick in poultry consumption, alongside a 1.8% increase in lamb, beef, and pork.
Conversely, there has been a marked decline in the consumption of processed meats, which has fallen by 12% since the 2018-19 period. Poultry has become the dominant choice among meats, constituting 44% of total meat intake, while beef, lamb, and pork accounted for 36%. Sausages and other processed meats made up the remaining portion of meat consumption.
In addition to increased meat consumption, Australians also demonstrated a growing preference for potato chips, with consumption up by 10% in 2023-24. However, chocolate consumption experienced a decline of 5.7%, reflecting a potential shift towards healthier snacking options. Interestingly, despite most fruit categories seeing reduced consumption over the past six years, the intake of berries has surged by more than 25% during this timeframe.
Beverage choices have also changed, with bottled water consumption increasing by 3.9% over the last year. Additionally, there was a rise in the consumption of soft drinks, as well as energy and sports drinks, while fruit juices and fruit drinks saw a slight decline.
This data highlights an evolving landscape of dietary preferences and lifestyle choices among Australians, pointing towards a trend of prioritising meat and convenience snacks while moving away from certain sweet treats like chocolate.