• Liquid milk consumption has fallen 2.4% between 2006 and 2007 and is now 15% lower than ten years ago.
• Yogurt consumption has fallen for the first time in seven years.
• Butter consumption has continued to grow since 2003/04.
• Cheese consumption has grown 2.6% between 2006 and 2007 with the largest percentage growth seen in edam and other foreign hard cheeses.

Defra's Family Food Survey has released the latest data on consumption of food products in the UK. Defra are now producing data for the calendar year rather than for the milk year, which has been the case between 2003 and 2006. Average liquid milk consumption for 2007 stands at 1,575mls per person per week - 2.4% lower than the data for the 2006 year. Further examination of the figures shows that consumption of whole milk fell by 11.9%, while semi-skimmed milk consumption increased 0.8%. Skimmed milk saw the largest percentage increase in consumption between 2006 and 2007 of 6.1%.

In other dairy products, yogurt consumption fell after seeing good growth for the last seven years. Data shows that despite yogurt consumption falling 3.9% between 2006 and 2007, consumption levels are still well above those seen ten years ago. Elsewhere, consumption of cheese increased to 119g per person per week. Within the cheese category cheddar cheese saw consumption increased 3.1% between 2006 and 2007, while edam and other foreign hard cheese saw the largest percentage increase of 14.3%. However, processed cheese consumption fell 7.7% to 12g per person per week.

Butter consumption has continued to increase, with average consumption now at 41g per person per week an increase of 2.5% from 2006 and 13.9% higher than average consumption in 1997. Average cream consumption has fallen slightly between 2006 and 2007, falling from 22g per person per week to 21g per person per week. Dairy desserts consumption has fallen from 41g per person per week to 42g, although consumption of dairy desserts is still almost twice that seen ten years ago.

For further information on consumption statistics, please click here.

Source: DEFRA