The Portuguese are the European Union’s keenest purchasers of food and soft drinks, considering annual household spending, according to European Union statistical agency Eurostat.

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Portugal’s consumers devoted 18.5% of their spending on food and non-alcoholic drinks in 2001 and 2000 – the latest available comparative statistics.


Second were the Greeks – 16.9%, and Spain third – 15.2%, reflecting common patterns about poorer countries spending comparatively more on food.


Among richer EU countries the highest spenders were the French and Italians at 14.4%. Across the EU, the lowest spending country was Britain – 9.7%, with Ireland second lowest at 10.7%.


Other results were Belgium 13%, Denmark 12.9%, Finland and Sweden 12.8%, Austria 12.6%, Germany 12.3% and the Netherlands 11.6%.

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