Fascinating Data on What America Eats

[FrankD]

The USDA's Economic Research Service has recently released data on American consumption of different foods from 1909 to 2009. Here's a link:

http://www.ers.usda.gov/AmberWaves/Ma...

Many interesting things emerge. For example, in 1909, Americans ate about 25 pounds of sweet potatoes each year. Today, it's less than 2. Beef consumption peaked in the 1970's, and has now dropped by about half, while chicken, which held steady at around 10 lbs per person per year from 1909 to the 50's has zoomed up by five times in the last 50 years. There are lots of other fascinating tidbits in the report.

[Beckyleach]

Wow! Thanks so much! Years ago, I spent my time in grad school studying foodways and culinary history, on my way to a Ph.D. in American Studies (the dissertation got derailed by some delicious baby daughters). Stuff like this is MANNA to me!

[chowser]

That's interesting. I love the euphemism of "available" fat for using more fat:

"The availability of fats and oils grew from 36 pounds per person in 1909 to 87 pounds in 2008. "

It's sad that almost half the fruit consumption in this country is now from processed fruit (I'm assuming a big part if fruit juice?). More processed eggs since 1970? Other than hard boiled eggs in bags, what else is there? Oh, would that be Egg Beaters type products?

I had read, elsewhere, that spinach consumption has increased substantially since bagged, prewashed spinach has been available. It makes sense when cleaning spinach, and picking through it is more time consuming.

[Sooeygun]

Availability isn't a euphemism in this case. From the article:

"Food availability is a supply measure, not an intake measure. The availability data typically overstate actual consumption because they do not account for spoilage and waste in the marketing system and at home. Therefore, ERS’s food availability data indicate trends in consumption over time rather than absolute levels of food eaten."

[tomatoaday]

Maybe the processed eggs refers to the eggs that are now pastuerized and in use by many restaurants? Or hard cooked eggs sold in deli style salads? Consumption of those has certainly increased as people eat more and more outside of their homes and cook for themselves less and less.

[ferret]

"Processed eggs" is a USDA term and refers to eggs (not in shell) used in food preparation, they can be dried or in bulk liquid form. So perhaps there are institutions out there that still rely on dried egg products (prisons? soup kitchens? military?)

As for the rest of, it's all one big "duh". Meat was seasonal in the early part of the 20th Century and grains/root vegetables were easily stored for year-round use. The post-WWII years were the game changers.

[coney with everything]

I like the way they say that Americans "enjoyed" more cheese...your dairy lobbyists at work!