Sample Detail

The line graph illustrates changes in the weekly consumption of fish, beef, lamb and chicken in a European country between 1979 and 2004, measured in grams per person. Overall, chicken consumption increased markedly over the period and eventually became the most popular food item. By contrast, the figures for beef and lamb declined substantially, while fish remained the least frequently consumed throughout and experienced only a slight decrease. At the beginning of the period, beef was the most widely consumed food, at approximately 220 grams per person per week. After rising to a peak of around 240 grams in 1984, its consumption fell steadily and ended at just over 100 grams in 2004. Chicken followed the opposite trend. Starting at about 150 grams, its figure increased consistently despite minor fluctuations and overtook beef around 1989. It then continued to rise, reaching roughly 250 grams by the end of the period, the highest level recorded on the chart. Lamb consumption also showed a downward trend. The figure stood at approximately 150 grams in 1979 before declining gradually to around 70 grams in 2004. Although there were several short-lived increases during the 1980s and late 1990s, the overall pattern was clearly negative. Fish, meanwhile, remained comparatively stable throughout the period. Its consumption fell only slightly, from nearly 60 grams per person per week to about 45 grams, making it consistently the least popular of the four food types.