Brits give up fresh food for the recession

Saturday, November 3, 2012

Since the financial crisis in 2008, the accompanying recession and a boost in commodity prices, Britons have changed their eating habits, according to The Economist magazine. Retail food prices have increased 25 per cent since 2008 and the poor now spend 16 per cent of their income on food, reversing a steady downward trend since 1938. Organic food sales have dropped 21 per cent since 2008.

Surprisingly, it is sales of fresh foods and meats that have taken the biggest beating. Fruit and vegetable sales declined, as did sales of primary proteins; meat and fish, that require other ingredients to turn them into meals. Food waste is down by more than 10 per cent.

Prepared foods are the winners, as are things like pizzas that can be heated quickly. It seems the Brits would rather watch cooking shows than cook for themselves. It's likely that the long tail on this recession might be higher future health care costs. BF