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The Portuguese diet under the microscope

The National Statistics Institute reveals an excessive and unbalanced food supply from 2020-2024, in the new Portuguese Food Balance Sheet.

The new document from the National Statistics Institute reveals an average daily intake per capita of 4,079 kcal, between 2020 and 2024, on par with the previously registered 4,077 kcal in 2015-2019. This is twice the recommended amount for an adult of average healthy weight. However, it is important to highlight the slight decrease registered in 2020 of 3,894 kcal, caused by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which constituted the lowest result in the last ten years.

In 2024, the Portuguese Food Balance (BAP) registered the largest deviations from the recommended consumption by the Food Wheel by excess in “Meat, fish, and eggs” and by deficiencies in “Vegetables” and “Fruits”, when compared with 2020. The average energy contribution from fats was 36% above the maximum recommended consumption limit, while the contribution from carbohydrates was found to be 49.8% below the recommended range, and that from proteins was 13.7%, within the recommended range.

The Portuguese Food Balance Sheet also shows a shift in food availability for consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic, unlike anything seen since 1990, causing the lowest Mediterranean diet adherence rate recorded in 2021 (1,10). In 2022, the adherence rate recovered (+2.3%) and remained unchanged until 2024, at 1.13.

To access the full report, please follow the link.