The total consumption of food by Australians has fallen for the first time on record.

According to figures published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) on Friday, Australians purchased a total of 14.8 million tonnes of food and non-alcoholic beverages in the 12 months to the end of June 2023 – down 1.9 percent from 15.1 million tonnes in the previous 12 months.

It marks the first time the total apparent consumption of food and non-alcoholic beverages has declined since the ABS started measuring it in 2018-19.

Apparent consumption of every major food group fell, with vegetables recording the largest drop of 14 grams per person per day followed by fruit – down 12 grams – milk and non-alcoholic beverages.

“Each person had 186 grams of vegetables a day in 2022-23, down from 200 grams a day in 2021-22,” Paul Atyeo, ABS health statistics spokesperson, said in a media release.

“We also went from eating 150 grams of fruit to 138 grams a day during 2022-23, while milk products fell from 278 to 267 grams.”

Separate data published by the ABS in July 2023 revealed that food and non-alcoholic beverages rose by 7.5 percent in the year to June.

The annual rate of inflation was highest for dairy and related products at 15.2 percent.

Compared to 2018-19, consumption of cow’s milk, bread and fruit juice per person in Australia has fallen by between five and eight percent, the ABS said.

In the same period, consumption of potato chips increased by 16 percent and that of chocolate by 10 percent.

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