Canadian Per Capita Pulse Use Rising

VANCOUVER - May 28/08 - SNS -- Greater ethnic diversity seems to be having a positive impact on the volume of pulses being consumed annually in Canada, with per capita consumption of dried and canned beans and dry peas rising from 4.04 kilograms per person in 1981 to 5.14 kilograms in 2007.

There is certainly growing interest in consuming pulses among Canada's ethnic European population, but that group has been typically slow to increase use of the crops in their diets -- a tendency reflected by informal surveys of pulse producers in western Canada.

Statistics Canada noted a significant shift from consumption of baked and canned beans toward direct use of dry beans. In 1981, Canadians consumed 2.32 kilograms per capita of baked and canned beans and 0.61 kilograms of dry beans. By 2001, canned bean usage had dropped to 1.42 kilograms, while dry bean consumption had risen to 2.11 kilograms per person. In 2007, canned bean usage had slipped further to 1.25 kilograms per capita and dry bean consumption risen to 2.45 kilograms.

Interest in consuming dry pulses is also reflected in the growth in dry pea consumption rates in Canada. In 1981 they stood at 1.11 kilograms per capita, rising to 1.41 by 2001 and 1.44 kilograms last year.

                   Canada -- Per Capita Pulse Consumption
                         (kilograms per person)
                        Tree        Dry     Canned        Dry        All
                        Nuts      Beans  Dry Beans       Peas     Pulses
1981                    1.30       2.32       0.61       1.11       4.04
1986                    1.52       2.31       0.74       1.19       4.24
1991                    1.29       1.55       0.76       1.16       3.47
1996                    0.94       1.43       1.34       1.38       4.15
2001                    1.59       1.42       2.11       1.41       4.94
2002                    1.42       1.35       2.24       1.42       5.01
2003                    1.42       1.35       2.31       1.42       5.08
2004                    1.49       1.35       2.39       1.43       5.17
2005                    1.33       1.29       2.45       1.43       5.17
2006                    1.42       1.28       2.40       1.43       5.11
2007                    1.65       1.25       2.45       1.44       5.14
Average                 1.40       1.53       1.81       1.35       4.69
SOURCE: Statistics Canada

In its discussion of the latest food consumption data, Statistics Canada said the Canadian diet now includes more fresh fruits, yogurts, cheeses, creams, red meats, exotic juices, low fat milk, wine and spirits. Canadians also prefer less cereal and sugar, and fewer oils, fats and eggs in their diet.

Total fresh fruits available, including citrus, set a new record in 2007, reaching 38.2 kilograms (kg) per person. The popularity of guavas and mangoes has increased 88% from a decade ago. The Canadian diet includes 37.7% more processed fruits than 20 years ago.

Compared with 20 years ago, Canadians now have 10.9% more vegetables, excluding potatoes, in their diet; four times more garlic; more than twice as much asparagus and close to twice as many cucumbers. Exotic vegetables such as manioc, eggplant, kohlrabi and okra are also on the rise.

The use of standard and 2% milk has declined and has been replaced partly by an increase of 1% and skim milk in the diet. However, Canadians are eating more fat from cheese and cream products. On average, they had 6.2 liters of cream and 10.1 kg of cheeses in 2007.

In 2007, Canadians on average had 24.5 kg of red meats, which include beef, pork, mutton and veal; an increase of 0.7 kg from the previous year. There appears to be a shift in the type of fish preferred by Canadians. Shellfish products have decreased by almost 30% in the past seven years, while, in 2007, the Canadian diet included almost 50% more freshwater fish than a decade ago.

Total cereals available from the food supply declined to 56.9 kg per person in 2007, mostly influenced by a decrease in the availability of wheat flour. Rice, on the other hand increased to 5.2 kg per person.

The popularity of wine in 2007 climbed to a new record at 14.6 liters per person for Canadians aged 15 years and older. This represents an increase of almost 46% compared with a decade ago. On the other hand, beer levels have remained fairly stable over the same period.