The line graph illustrates the weekly consumption of four types of meat – fish, lamb, beef, and chicken – in a European country from 1979 to 2004, measured in grams per person.
Overall, the most notable trend is that chicken consumption rose sharply throughout the period, while the consumption of beef, lamb, and fish declined, with fish remaining the least popular meat.
In 1979, beef was the most consumed meat at around 220 grams per person per week, followed by chicken at roughly 140 grams, and lamb at about 150 grams. Fish consumption was significantly lower, at just over 60 grams. Over the next 25 years, beef and lamb consumption experienced substantial declines. Beef dropped steadily to approximately 110 grams by 2004, while lamb fell even more sharply, reaching around 70 grams.
Chicken consumption, in contrast, increased consistently. By 1984 it surpassed lamb and continued rising, eventually reaching about 250 grams per week in 2004, making it the most popular meat by a wide margin. Fish consumption showed only a gradual decline, from just above 60 grams to about 45 grams, remaining relatively stable compared to the more dramatic drops seen in beef and lamb.
In summary, while chicken consumption increased significantly over the 25-year period, the consumption of beef, lamb, and fish all decreased, with chicken becoming increasingly dominant in the national diet.