Fish consumption in Finland saw a dramatic drop in 2024, reaching its lowest level in years. According to early figures from the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), the average Finnish resident consumed just under 11 kilograms of fish throughout the year. That is a sharp fall from 17 kilograms per person in 2023.
This decline marks one of the most significant changes in the country’s recent dietary trends.
Changing Food Patterns: Fish Consumption in Finland Drops While Other Categories Rise
While fish intake declined, other food categories showed notable increases. Luke’s Balance Sheet for Food Commodities reported the following per capita averages across key groups:
- Meat: 78 kilograms per person, with beef and poultry making up the largest share
- Cereals: 87 kilograms, including a rise in oat-based food consumption
- Liquid dairy products: 130 kilograms overall
- Vegetables: 64 kilograms per capita
- Fruit: Just over 48 kilograms, with citrus fruits accounting for nearly one-fourth of total fruit intake
One standout in cereal consumption was oats. Intake rose by over two kilograms to reach more than 12 kilograms per person. The increase is linked to growing demand for oat-based foods in the Finnish market. According to Erja Mikkola, Senior Specialist at Luke, “The use of oats for food has increased considerably,” though a large portion still goes to animal feed.
Meat and Dairy See Mixed Trends
Meat consumption continued its upward path, driven especially by beef and poultry. This is in contrast to dairy products, where the trend remained negative.
Liquid milk consumption dropped to an average of 85 litres per person, marking about a 2 percent decrease from the previous year. Semi-skimmed milk was still the most consumed type, followed by skimmed milk. Both categories saw a roughly 3 percent drop. Whole milk consumption inched up slightly but made up only 13 percent of total milk intake.
Cheese saw a small gain, rising to 26.1 kilograms per person. Butter consumption remained unchanged at just above 3 kilograms per capita.
Luke announced that this would be its final edition of the Balance Sheet for Food Commodities. The final statistics for 2024 are expected to be released in the autumn.
The sharp drop in fish consumption in Finland could signal a changing relationship between the population and one of its historically central food sources. Whether due to shifts in cost, taste preferences, environmental concerns, or access, the trend is likely to invite closer attention from both policymakers and the food industry.
