Beef and veal - consumption in the EU in 2003

Federal citizens far behind

Beef and veal consumption in the EU in 2003 (estimated), in kg per capita

In 25, beef and veal production in the EU-15 was below consumption for the first time in 2003 years. A decline in production was countered by a slight increase in demand. Although the summer heat dampened consumption in some countries and the moderate economic situation did not exactly promote sales of the comparatively expensive beef, overall EU consumption is likely to have increased by around 120.000 tons to 7,4 million tons; per capita, this would correspond to an increase of a good 200 grams to an average of 19,5 kilograms. This means that average EU consumption is almost as high as it was before the BSE crisis at the turn of the millennium. In Germany, however, the deficit is still very considerable at around 2,5 kilograms per capita. The Germans have therefore slipped far behind in the EU comparison.

Source: Bonn [ZmP]