40 years of UK diet change

Latest figures from the UK Government show dramatic changes in national consumption habits over the 40 years between 1974 and 2014.

• Just 11% of household income was spent on food in 2014, compared with 24% in 1974.
• Reduced and zero calorie variants now make up half of all carbonated soft drinks consumption.
• Low fat milk overtook whole milk in 1991.
• Fresh and processed fruit sales have risen by 50% since 1974.
• Takeaway food sales have nearly doubled in the past 40 years.

It’s worth bearing in mind that only 15% of households owned a freezer in 1974. The number in 2000 was 94%.

The trends and contrasts seem almost to be characterised by a duel between health and convenience.