Belgians consume more chicken and eggs, beef consumption slips
Shifting habits reflect price pressures and changing tastes
21 May 2026
1 minute read
By: Figures from YouGov Belgium for VLAM show that animal products remain a cornerstone of the Belgian diet, though notable shifts are emerging across several categories.
Home consumption of fresh meat, poultry and game held steady in 2025 at 27.3 kg per person per year. Within that category, chicken continued its upward trend, rising 4% to 9.4 kg per capita — a gain that reflects a longer-term shift in preferences. Beef moved in the opposite direction, with home consumption falling 8% from 4.5 kg to 4.1 kg per person. A sharp 14% price increase for beef likely contributed to the decline. Pork remained relatively stable at around 6 kg per capita.
Fish and seafood also posted gains in 2025. Home consumption of fresh fish, molluscs and crustaceans rose 5% to 3.4 kg per person, driven largely by mussels. Fresh fish consumption held steady, with salmon continuing to gain market share within that segment.
Egg consumption continued its steady climb, reaching 83 eggs per person in 2025, up from 66 in 2016. Within dairy, yogurt grew in importance while white milk continued a gradual long-term decline. Cheese consumption remained stable at roughly 12 kg per person per year.
The data also point to heightened price sensitivity among consumers. Hard discount formats continued to gain ground in fresh food, while shoppers visited stores less frequently but purchased more per trip.
