Poultry down 3% as nation eats less meat

HOUSEHOLD consumption of carcass meats and primary poultry meat was lower across the board in the first quarter of this year.

Beef was the least affected, showing a fall of around one per cent, according to figures in the National Food Survey, which broadly equate to retail sales.

Primary poultry meat consumption slipped by nearly three per cent, while the three main carcase meats combined were down four per cent. Primary poultry meat remains a bigger item in the average weekly shopping basket than all three carcass meats put together, at 249g/person/week.

Other meat and meat products, of which added-value poultry forms a sizeable chunk, account for almost as much again in consumption, at 453.

Catering and eating out are not covered by the survey.