Bread consumption slows its decline. Will the extension of fiscal measures reverse this trend?

By Silvia Martín, Director of Food Regulations at the Spanish Association of the Bread, Pastry, and Confectionery Industry (ASEMAC).

Last Friday, June 21st, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food, Luis Planas, presented the 2023 Food Consumption Report in Spain, indicating that the consumption of food and beverages remained almost stable, decreasing by 0.7% compared to the previous year, with a total of 685.02 kg/l per capita. The spending evolution was higher, growing by 7.5% to reach a total of 115,917.42 million euros, 2,732.77 euros per inhabitant in 2023.

Specifically, concerning bread, Spanish households reduced bread purchases by 1% in 2023, whereas the decrease was 7.2% in 2022 and 8.1% in 2021, highlighting a slowdown in the decline in consumption. On average, each Spanish individual consumed 27.35 kilos of bread in 2023, which represents a decrease of 2.1% compared to the previous year, meaning 96 million fewer loaves were sold. Bread now represents less than 5% of the total volume of Spanish households' shopping carts.

If we go back to the 1960s, when, according to records, bread consumption in households began to decline, it was estimated that 130 kg of bread per person per year was consumed at home. However, changing eating habits have led to an unstoppable decline. If we consider the temporal horizon, the year 1990, when ASEMAC was founded, the total amount of bread purchased in households was 48.60 kg per person per year; this translates to a nearly 50% decrease in consumption over 35 years. The mistaken mantra "bread makes you fat," from which we have not been able to detach ourselves, as well as changes in work and social patterns, have undoubtedly contributed to this decline.

Bread in the Mediterranean diet

On the other hand, and referring to the presentation of the Report with which the article began, we must highlight the relevance of the Mediterranean diet and the healthy habits associated with it, which are recognized as one of the most attractive elements of food and our lifestyle in Spain.

In this regard, it should be noted that bread is a traditional food and one of the pillars of our Mediterranean diet. Its sustained consumption over time lies in the fact that it is an inexpensive and important source of energy, providing complex carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, and minerals. Numerous studies have confirmed the beneficial effects of bread consumption, especially when it is part of a healthy diet like the Mediterranean one.