Meat consumption in Spain has fallen

MEAT consumption in Spain has fallen for the sixth year in a row, with Spanish households now eating an average 12 per cent less than in 2012.

According to a study by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Spaniards consumed 2.114 billion kilos of meat in 2018, 2.6 per cent less than in 2017.

In addition, the results show how the average price per kilo stood at €6.69, representing an increase of 2.2 per cent over 2017.

These figures come a few days after UN climate change experts warned of the need to reduce meat consumption. During last year, the fall in demand for fresh meat was 3.8 per cent, while the price per kilo of it rose by 2.1 per cent, reaching €6.07.

By categories, 37.5 per cent of fresh meat consumed at home is chicken, 29.8 per cent pork and 14.6 per cent beef. The consumption of fresh meat in 2018 was 33.48 kilos per person per year, representing a reduction of 4.2 per cent compared to 2017.

However, during 2018 the Spanish consumed more processed meat. The increase compared to 2017 was 1.9 per cent, and this type of product already accounts for 25 per cent of total meat bought by households. The biggest sellers are cold cuts, which represent 22 per cent of the total volume of processed meat. It is followed by cured ham and shoulder (15.4 per cent) and then cooked ham (10.2 per cent). In addition, the report indicates that the main consumers of processed meat are adults and independent young people.

On average, each Spaniard consumed 33.48 kilos of fresh meat, 11.61 kilos of processed meat and 1.10 kilos of frozen meat during 2018.