FOOD CONSUMPTION.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5178, 14 September 1927, Page 3

FOOD CONSUMPTION.

NEW ZEALAND’S RECORD.

INTERESTING FIGURES. Interesting details in regard to the consumption of foodstuffs in New Zealand’ are given in the “Abstract of Statistics” for August. “New Zealand,” it is stated, “is one of the greatest dairying countries in the tyorld, and it might be confidently expected tfiat the annual consumption of butter and cheese per head of the population would be high; but although this is the case with butter—--271b per head—it is not so with cheese, the 51b per person being very small when compared with a consumption of 101 b per head in the United Kingdom. The people of New Zealand have always been regarded as great meat-eaters, and that this assumption is based on more than mere supposition is amply borne out by the figures; The average consumption of fresh meat per head of population ip the Dominion is 3551 b, while in addition 2%1b of preserved meat, and 14%1b of bacon and ham are also consumed. Beef easily heads the list with an average of consumption of 2371 b per person, followed by mutton 781 b, pork 321 b, and lamb 81b. For purpose of comparison the figures for Australia and Canada are given herewith—beef, 1101 b and 751 b; mutton and lamb, 691 b and 81b ; pork t (all kinds),' 141 b and 781 b respectively. “Of the agricultural products flour leads; the yvay with 2091 b, closely followed by potatoes, 1911 b. Onions are credited with 12%1b, and oatmeal, rolled, oats, and other similar preparations with 9%1b. Of the imported articles rice has an average consumption of 51b per head, sago and tapioca 21b, and cornflour, etc., l%lb. The figures for dried fruits are also substantial, these for raisips and sultanas, dates* and currants’, being naturally most prominent. “Fresh fruit is now regarded as quite an important article of food, and the consumption figures throw some light on the extent to which the different fruits are consumed in the Dominion. The ever popular apple comes easily first with 371 b for each person, bananas; being second with 17%1b, oranges third with 101 b, and pears next with 6341 b,