Trends in food expenditure, consumption and nutrition in Latvia | Pārtikas izdevumu, patēriņa un uzturvērtības tendences Latvijā
2009
Popluga, D., Latvian State Inst. of Agrarian Economics, Riga (Latvia) | Melece, L., Latvian State Inst. of Agrarian Economics, Riga (Latvia)
The population welfare level remarkably changed after 1990 when Latvia experienced dramatic economic changes. These changes affected the structure of food expenditure and consumption satisfying not only quantitative, but also qualitative food needs of inhabitants. The aim of this study was to analyse the trends of food consumption patterns and nutritive value of diet in Latvian households over the past decade. The study results showed that Latvian food consumption pattern had significantly changed over the last decade. At present food, transport, housing, water, electricity and gas constitute the largest categories of household expenditure. Furthermore, Latvian population constantly allocate more money for education, recreation, and culture. However, despite the fact that the share of food expenditure (expressed in % of total household expenditure) annually decreases, Latvia is still among those European Union member states which households spend relatively high share of their disposable income for purchasing food. A positive correlation was concluded between food consumption and income. For instance, consumption of cereal, oil and fat products tend to decline, whereas consumption of beverages, meat and fish appears to rise with the increase of income. Regardless some positive qualitative changes in the dietary pattern of Latvian population, the general situation is unsatisfactory due to high share of animal origin fat, sugar, and low share of plant origin calories in the nutritive value of Latvian population.
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