Per capita consumption of food products in Germany 1900 and 2023
German food consumption levels have certainly changed across the board between 1900 and 2023. Figures that immediately catch the eye are potato consumption amounts: 271 kilos per person in 1900 and 54 kilos in 2023.
Food on the table
In Germany, most people do not follow any specific diet. However, giving up meat and dairy products in one's daily nutrition and only consuming them once in a while has become somewhat of a trend in the past years. Therefore, the per capita consumption of meat has been decreasing yearly since 2018. While diet and health factors have become increasingly relevant in the food choices we make, the taste of food is still the number one priority for most consumers.
Spice of life
Germany has always had a strong dairy industry, with ensuing product popularity, so it might not be surprising that more milk, butter and cheese are consumed today than at the beginning of the century. On the other hand, potatoes are not the diet staple they once were, and obviously the variety of vegetables sold today simply means the consumer has options. The latter is generally true for today’s consumers: the German food market offers plenty of choice.
