Figures released on Friday revealed Australians purchased less food from places such as supermarkets and convenience stores last financial year compared to the previous 12 months, with residents cutting back on vegetables and fruit the most.
The ABS data on apparent consumption looked into purchases from the food retail sector such as convenience stores, supermarkets, butchers, bakeries and fresh food markets but not from fast food outlets, cafes and restaurants. Australians cut back on vegetables the most, followed by fruit, milk products and non-alcoholic drinks.
Purchases of sugar-sweetened drinks also continued to decline, working out to be 134mL per person per day in 2022-23, down from the 2020-21 peak of 145mL. Over a five year period, purchases of potato chips were up 16 per cent, chocolate was up 10 per cent and cereals and convenience meals were up nine per cent.
"So that's dropped to less than two and a half serves of vegetables per day where we're looking at trying to get five serves per day, and less than one serve a day for fruit which we're trying to get two serves per day.