Estimates of the consumption of foodstuffs in Australia are compiled by taking the production of a commodity, adding to it any imports, deducting from it any exports, and taking account of changes in the levels of stocks. Because consumption of foodstuffs is measured, in general, at producer level, no allowance is made for consumer wastage, which results in overstating consumption to some extent.
The estimates of consumption per capita have been obtained by using the mean resident population for the period.
Table 16.59 shows the changes in trends in the consumption of various foodstuffs since 1938-39.
16.59 APPARENT PER CAPITA CONSUMPTION OF FOODSTUFFS
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| | | | Average three years ended | | | |
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Commodity | Units | 1938-39 | 1948-49 | 1958-59 | 1968-69 | 1978-79 | 1988-89 | 1996-97 | 1997-98 | 1998-99 |
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Meat (carcass equivalent weight) | | | | | | | | | | |
| Beef | kg | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | 38.3 | 37.8 | 36.2 | 34.9 |
| Veal | kg | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | 1.7 | 1.8 | 1.9 | 1.5 |
| Beef and veal | kg | 63.6 | 49.5 | 56.2 | 40.0 | 64.8 | 40.0 | 39.6 | 38.1 | 36.4 |
| Lamb | kg | 6.8 | 11.4 | 13.3 | 20.5 | 14.4 | 14.9 | 11.1 | 11.0 | 11.8 |
| Mutton | kg | 27.2 | 20.5 | 23.1 | 18.8 | 3.6 | 7.3 | 6.0 | 5.7 | 4.5 |
| Pig meat | kg | 3.9 | 3.2 | 4.6 | 6.7 | 13.3 | 17.5 | 17.6 | 18.5 | 19.0 |
| Total meat | kg | 101.5 | 84.6 | 97.2 | 85.9 | 96.1 | 79.8 | 74.2 | 73.3 | 71.6 |
| Offal and meat n.e.i. | kg | 3.8 | 4.0 | 5.2 | 5.1 | 5.9 | 3.1 | 0.9 | n.a. | n.a. |
| All meat and meat products | kg | 118.5 | 103.0 | 112.4 | 98.8 | 102.0 | 82.8 | 75.1 | n.a. | n.a. |
Canned meat (canned weight) | kg | 1.0 | 1.2 | 1.9 | 2.2 | 1.6 | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. |
Bacon and ham (cured carcass weight) | kg | 4.6 | 5.3 | 3.2 | 3.6 | 6.0 | 6.9 | 8.5 | 8.7 | 8.7 |
Poultry (dressed weight)(a) | kg | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | 8.3 | 17.1 | 24.1 | 27.8 | 29.6 | 30.8 |
Milk and milk products | | | | | | | | | | |
| Market milk (fluid whole litres) | L | 106.4 | 138.7 | 128.7 | 128.2 | 100.5 | 101.7 | 104.2 | 103.0 | 102.4 |
| Cheese (natural equivalent weight) | kg | 2.0 | 2.5 | 2.6 | 3.5 | 5.3 | 8.8 | 10.6 | 10.7 | 10.7 |
Oils and fats | | | | | | | | | | |
| Butter | kg | 14.9 | 11.2 | 12.3 | 9.8 | 5.1 | 3.2 | 2.8 | 2.8 | 2.9 |
| Margarine | kg | 2.2 | 2.8 | n.a. | 4.9 | 8.5 | 9.0 | 6.6 | 6.7 | 6.4 |
| | Table | kg | 0.4 | 0.4 | n.a. | 1.5 | 5.4 | 6.8 | 4.7 | 4.4 | 4.5 |
| | Other | kg | 1.8 | 2.4 | 2.2 | 3.4 | 3.1 | 2.2 | 1.9 | 2.3 | 1.9 |
Beverages | | | | | | | | | | |
| Tea | kg | 3.1 | 2.9 | 2.7 | 2.3 | 1.7 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.9 |
| Coffee | kg | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 1.2 | 1.6 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.3 | 2.4 |
| Aerated and carbonated waters | L | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | 47.3 | 67.4 | 87.4 | 114.4 | 109.0 | 113.0 |
| Beer | L | 53.2 | 76.8 | 99.7 | 113.5 | 133.2 | 113.1 | 95.5 | 94.5 | 93.2 |
| Wine | L | 2.7 | 5.9 | 5.0 | 8.2 | 14.7 | 20.2 | 19.0 | 19.7 | 19.8 |
| Spirits (litres alcohol) | L | 0.5 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 1.2 |
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(a) Excludes Tas., NT and ACT. |
Source: Apparent Consumption of Foodstuffs, Australia (4306.0); Australian Dairy Corporation. |