CONTENT OF UK FAMILY SHOPPING BASKETS REVEALED

On average a person living in the UK spends £34.31 per week on food and drink. It is one of the key findings published today in Family Food Expenditure 2004-5, the latest in a series of annual Defra reports recording estimates of food and drink purchases in the UK.

Family Food Expenditure presents the latest emerging trends in purchases and eating habits by type of food and nutrient content. Comparing 2004-05 estimates with the previous year, the survey shows that:

Household Purchases

* Household expenditure on fresh fruit increased by 2.7% and on fresh vegetables by 2.8% (excluding potatoes).

* Wholemeal bread expenditure increased by 24.2%, while white bread sales decreased by 6.6%.

* Alcohol consumption at home was down by 3.7% and when consumed outside the home, down by 7.3%.

* Sales of semi-skimmed milk were up by 8.9%, while household purchases of liquid whole milk dropped by 18%.

* Total purchases of fats and oils decreased by 2.3%.

* Yoghurt and fromage frais purchases were 6.1% higher.

* Ice cream purchases fell by 8.7%.

* Mineral water purchases rose by 6.2%.

* Household purchases of confectionery were up by 1.8% with only boiled sweets and mints showing a fall.

* Beef purchases rose by 3.5% but there was little change in pork, mutton and lamb.

Eating Out

* On average adult households spent 7.2% more than the UK average on food and drink eaten at home and 25% more on eating out.

* Expenditure on food and drink for consumption outside the home is up nationally by 3.0% but down in terms of quantity by 6.7%

* English households purchased the highest number of fish and fish products, and beverages, over one and a half times more than in Northern Ireland.

* Purchases of sandwiches eaten out fell by 7.5%.

* The average quantity of alcoholic drinks purchased for consumption outside the home was 616 millilitres per person per week.

i spend about a tenner a week on food. but i drink slightly more than 616ml of alcohol in pubs per week, sso i guess that evens out... :)