Data from INE indicates that the calories available for consumption double the recommended amount for an adult with a healthy average weight, with values remaining almost identical to those observed from 2015-2019, which were 4,077 Kcal.
“However, it is important to note the 3,894 kcal availability recorded in 2020 (the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic), which was the lowest result of the last ten years,” highlighted the INE.
In the analysis of BAP data, INE emphasized that food availability for consumption from 2020-2024 continues to show an “excessive and unbalanced” food supply.
Last year, food product groups with the most significant deviations, compared to the recommended consumption according to the Food Wheel, were, in excess, meat, fish, and eggs (+12.4 percentage points compared to +12.0 p.p. in 2020), while deficiencies were noted in vegetables (-8.1 p.p., against -8.2 p.p. in 2020) and fruits (-3.7 p.p. versus -4.3 p.p. in 2020).
Regarding average food availability from 2020–2024 compared to 2015-2019, there was a 2.9% increase in meat (234.4 grams per capita/day).
Poultry continued to represent the largest share of availability, accounting for 39.9% of the total, followed by pork (27.4%), with an average reduction of 2.5 percentage points.
Beef occupied third place, having increased by 1.5 percentage points.
The supply of fish for consumption decreased by 2.1%, not exceeding 60.4 grams per capita, per day.
“The apparent consumption of crustaceans and mollusks grew by 20.6%, remaining the second product in this group (28.6% of the total), following fresh, refrigerated, frozen, or canned fish (55.1%), and relegating dried salted cod and other fish to the third position (16.3%),” according to INE’s analysis.
Meanwhile, egg consumption increased by 11.9%, with an average annual growth rate of about 3% in the analyzed five-year period.
On average, each resident in the national territory had about half an egg per day (183 eggs/year) available for consumption during the period analyzed.
Daily per capita availability of milk and dairy products reduced by 3.6%, standing at 312.7 grams per capita/day, with the availability of milk for public consumption, the main product in this group (56.7% of the total), decreasing by 10.6%.
Food availability of cereals slightly decreased (-1.2%), standing at 342.4 grams per capita/day over the analyzed five-year period. “Portugal covered only 23.0% of cereal consumption needs in 2020-2024,” compared to 24.7% in 2015-2019.
On the other hand, the daily available quantities of fruits per capita increased by 13.9%, marking an average annual growth of 1.8%.
Regarding alcoholic beverages, daily available quantities per capita were 332.2 milliliters per day (121 liters per capita/year), “reflecting a 10.0% increase compared to 2015-2019.”
Each resident in national territory had 52.1 liters of wine and 60.6 liters of beer available for consumption per year.
