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Family food

Family Food is the source of detailed statistical information on purchased quantities, expenditure and nutrient intakes derived from both household and eating out food and drink.  Data is collected for a sample of households in the United Kingdom using self-reported diaries of all purchases, including food eaten out, over a two week period.  Where possible quantities are recorded in the diaries but otherwise estimated.  Energy and nutrient intakes are calculated using standard nutrient composition data for each of some 500 types of food.

Current estimates are based on data collected in the Family Food Module of the Living Costs and Food Survey and on adjusted data collected in the National Food Survey.  Historical estimates from 1940 to 2000 are based on data from the National Food Survey.  For more information on calculations in Family Food, see the methodology papers.

Revision (28 March 2012)

  • An error was found in data relating to food purchases broken down by equivalised income between 2001 and 2007.  This data was published for the first time in the Food Statistics Pocketbook 2011 for fruit and vegetables, and then in Family Food 2010 in terms of energy intakes from food.  Regular statistics on the percentage of spend on food by low income households were not affected.  For more detail see the statistical notice listed below (28 March 2012).

Revision (16 February 2012)

  • The percentage spend on food by all households in 2010 is being revised to 11.2 per cent (previously published as 11.5 per cent).
  • A revised version of Family Food 2010 will be published on 16 February 2012.  Chart 5.1 and associated text on page 55 and in the executive summary are affected.  None of the other statistics or datasets are affected.

Family Food Datasets – revised (28 March 2012)

The Family Food datasets which were withdrawn as a result of data relating to food purchases by equivalised income decile group have now been corrected and can be viewed on the Family food datasets webpage.

Statistical Notices

Family Food Annual Reports

The Family Food reports from 2002 onwards can be downloaded below.

Links

‘Family Spending’, the report produced by the Office for National Statistics covering all household expenditure as collected in the Living Costs and Food Survey, is available from:www.ons.gov.uk

Feedback

We are keen to receive your comments on our annual report ‘Family Food’ and its associated datasets. We would like to know about your requirements and any suggestions for improvements we could make. Please download our feedback form and email it to us at: familyfood@defra.gsi.gov.uk. We are waiting to hear from you.

Downloads

28 March 2012

24 February 2012

13 December 2011

20 October 2011

25 May 2011

6 April 2011

26 March 2011

Page last modified: March 28, 2012