The line graph illustrates the amount of three spreads consumed, namely margarine, low-fat and butter between 1981 and 2007. Overall, butter was the most widely consumed spread at the beginning of the period, while margarine fluctuated during the period and low fat was first recorded in 1996.
From 1981 to 1991, butter and margarine were the only two spreads recorded. Butter consumption was higher than margarine until 1991, at 142 grams compared with 90 grams. Butter reached a peak of 159 grams in 1986, while margarine fell slightly to 80 grams. However, butter decreased to 100 grams, the same level as margarine, which had risen to 100 grams by 1991.
Between 1996 and 2001, butter consumption continued to decline, falling from 70 to 60 grams, while margarine also decreased slowly from 100 to 83 grams. In contrast, low fat, which was first recorded at 10 grams in 1996, increased dramatically to 83 grams by 2001. Therefore, in 2001, margarine and low fat had the same level of consumption.
From 2001 and 2007, all three spreads showed a decrease. Margarine plunged from 83 to 40 grams, while low fat also decreased, although less sharply, from 83 to 70 grams. Butter fell slightly from 60 to 50 grams.
As a result, by 2007, low fat was the most widely consumed spread of the three.