Australians eating more meat but less chocolate, new data reveals

Australians are eating more meat and less chocolate now than they were a few years ago, new data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has revealed.

Aussies consumed 2.3 per cent more meat overall in 2023-24 than the previous year, including 13 per cent more poultry and 1.8 per cent more lamb, beef, and pork, ABS health statistics spokesperson Paul Atyeo said.

Meanwhile, processed meats consumption dropped by 12 per cent since 2018-19.

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Poultry made up almost half (44 per cent) of the total meat eaten by the country during the year, while 36 per cent was beef, lamb, and pork, and the remainder was sausages and processed meats.

Australians also consumed 10 per cent more potato chips in 2023-24 than the previous year, but chocolate dropped by 5.7 per cent.

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Aussies also ate more a quarter more berries in 2023-24 than six years ago, despite the fact that most fruit categories have seen a fall since 2018, Atyeo said.

Finally, bottled water consumption went up by 3.9 per cent over the last year, along with soft drinks and energy and sports drinks, while fruit juices and fruit drinks dropped slightly.