Statistics Canada
www.statcan.gc.ca
Common menu bar links
2007
Archived Content
Information identified as archived on the Web is for reference, research or recordkeeping purposes. It has not been altered or updated after the date of archiving. Web pages that are archived on the Web are not subject to the Government of Canada Web Standards. As per the Communications Policy of the Government of Canada, you can request alternate formats on the "Contact Us" page.
Highlights
Canadian food preferences continue to change according to the 2007 snapshot of food available for consumption. The Canadian diet includes more fresh fruits, yogurts, cheeses, creams, red meats, exotic juices, low fat milk, wines and spirits. Canadians also prefer less cereal and sugar, fewer oils, fats and eggs in their diet.
Estimates on food availability have been adjusted to account for losses in cooking, storage and waste that occur from homes, restaurants and institutions while preparing and processing food.
Total fresh fruits available, including citrus, set a new record in 2007, reaching 38.2 kilograms (kg) per person. The popularity of guavas and mangoes has increased 88% from a decade ago. The Canadian diet includes 37.7% more processed fruits than 20 years ago.
Compared to 20 years ago, Canadians now have 10.9% more vegetables, excluding potatoes, in their diet; four times more garlic; more than twice as much asparagus and close to twice as much cucumbers. Exotic vegetables such as manioc, eggplant, kohlrabi and okra are also on the rise.
The use of standard and 2% milk has declined and has been replaced partly by an increase of 1% and skim milk in the diet. However, Canadians are eating more fat from cheese and cream products. On average, they had 10.1 kg of cheeses and 6.2 litres of creams in 2007.
In 2007, Canadians on average had 24.5 kg of red meats, which include beef, pork, mutton and veal; an increase of 0.7 kg from the previous year. There appears to be a shift in the type of fish preferred by Canadians. Shellfish products have decreased by almost 30% in the past seven years, while, in 2007, the Canadian diet included almost 50% more freshwater fish than a decade ago.
Total cereals available from the food supply declined to 56.9 kg per person in 2007, mostly influenced by a decrease in the availability of wheat flour. Rice, on the other hand, increased to 5.2 kg per person.
The popularity of wine in 2007 climbed to a new record at 14.6 litres per person for Canadians aged 15 years and older. This represents an increase of almost 46 % compared to a decade ago. On the other hand, beer levels have remained fairly stable over the same period.
