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Finns eating less meat and fish - higher prices likely to blame

People in Finland devoured around 26 kg of cheese and 11 kg of eggs per capita last year.

Beef and pork in a grocery store butcher department refrigerated display case.
On average, each person in Finland ate about 77 kg of meat last year, according to the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke). Image: Mårten Lampén / Yle
  • Yle News
  • STT

The consumption of meat in Finland continued to decline last year, according to the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke).

New statistics show that on average, people in Finland ate about 77 kg of meat per capita last year, which reflects a continuing decrease in meat consumption over the past several years.

On the other hand, the popularity of poultry products increased for some time as well, but that upward trend has ended, and around 29 kg of poultry was consumed in Finland per capita last year, according to the institute.

Consumption of fresh and frozen fish also clearly declined last year. According to Luke's senior specialist, Erja Mikkola, the recent uptick in food prices probably affected consumers' choices.

Oats still popular

There was a six percent decrease in milk consumption in Finland last year, or about 90 litres per person. The lower fat (kevyt) variety accounted for more than half of all milk that was consumed.

At the same time, per-capita total grain consumption rose by around three kilograms compared to the previous year, amounting to around 85 kg of grains per person last year.

The consumption of oats last year remained at the same level as in 2021, about 10.9 kg per person, Mikkola said, citing preliminary data.

Mikkola said that was roughly the same amount of oats that were consumed in 2020 (11 kg), which was a peak year.

Meanwhile, each person in Finland ate around 26 kg of cheese and 11 kg of eggs last year.