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Food available for consumption
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On a per capita basis, the Canadian diet in 2009 included more fresh fruit and vegetables, cereals, coffee and fish compared with 2008. The total daily intake of calories per person fell to 2,357.8 calories, down 155.6 calories from the peak in 2001.
Total fresh fruit intake, including citrus, reached a record 39.3 kg per person, up slightly from 2008.
The total fresh vegetable intake, excluding potatoes, reached a record 40.7 kg per person in 2009, slightly higher than the five-year average of 38.6 kg per person. This was just above the previous record of 40.3 kg in 2001.
Per capita red meat available for consumption continued to decline in 2009, falling by 0.7% to 23.4 kg per person per year. Red meat available for consumption has declined by 5.2 kg per person over the last 20 years.
In the past two decades, Canadians have shifted towards a diet which includes more fruits and vegetables, cereal products, and nuts and beans.
During this time, poultry consumption has increased, while beef and pork consumption has continued to decline. Oil and fat consumption increased through the 1990s to a peak in 1998, but has since fallen steadily. Sugar available for consumption has increased over the past two years from the record low set in 2007.
Data on food availability have been adjusted to account for losses in cooking, storage and waste that occur in homes, restaurants and institutions while preparing and processing food.
Available on CANSIM: tables 002-0010, 002-0011, 002-0019, and 003-0080.
Definitions, data sources and methods: survey numbers, including related surveys, 3403, 3404, 3407, 3423, 3430, 3460 and 3475.
The 2009 issue of Food Statistics (21-020-X, free) is now available. From the Key resource module of our website under Publications, choose All subjects then Agriculture.
The Canada Food Statistics CD-ROM (23F0001X, $81) and downloadable database (23F0001X, free) will not be updated in June 2010. The last updated issues of these products were released in June 2009.
For more information, call Client Services (toll-free 1-800-465-1991). To enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Robert Plourde (613-951-8716, robert.plourde@statcan.gc.ca), Agriculture Division.
