The line graph illustrates the consumption of fish and three types of meat – namely beef, lamb and chicken – in a European country over a 25-year period from 1979 to 2004, measured in grams per person per week.
Overall, it is clear that chicken consumption rose dramatically, whereas both beef and lamb intake declined considerably. Fish, by contrast, remained relatively stable and was consistently the least consumed food throughout the period.
At the beginning of the period, beef was by far the most popular choice, standing at approximately 220 grams per person per week. However, its consumption fluctuated slightly in the early 1980s before undergoing a steady decline, ultimately reaching just over 100 grams in 2004. A similar downward trend was observed in lamb consumption, which fell gradually from around 150 grams to roughly 60 grams by the end of the period.
In contrast, chicken consumption experienced a significant upward trend, increasing from about 150 grams in 1979 to approximately 250 grams in 2004. Notably, it surpassed beef in the late 1980s to become the most widely consumed meat. Meanwhile, fish consumption showed only minor fluctuations, decreasing slightly from around 60 grams to just below 50 grams.