Food Consumption in the European Union: Main Determinants and Country Differences

Consumers in the European Union are involved in integration processes that head towards homogenization of food consumption patterns+ Several factors are encouraging these homogenization trends based on consumers’ similarities and corporate activities+ In this article a review of the food consumption structure, across European Union countries, is undertaken+ First, food consumption trends in different countries are described and, second, factors, which determine consumer choices, are presented+ Despite the fact that European consumers face more homogeneous food market conditions, food consumption differences exist because preferences and food habits are still different among European consumers, and the market is fragmented ~EconLit: L660!+ © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc+