Food and nutrition

• Consumption of meat and poultry products increased by 2.3% in 2023-24
• Total dietary energy averaged 8,667 kJ per capita per day, similar to the level in 2022-23 (8,673 kJ)
• Discretionary foods contributed 38.5% of total dietary energy available, similar to 2022-23 (38.7%)

Presents information on selected biomarkers for nutrition, including iodine, folate, Vitamin B12 and iron

State and territory breakdown of average intakes of foods, nutrients and proportion of nutrients from food groups

• Adults and children had similar rates of meeting both fruit and vegetable recommendations (4.2% and 4.3%)
• More than four in ten (44.1%) adults met the fruit recommendation and more than six in ten (63.9%) children met the fruit recommendation

• One in three (33.6%) people took a dietary supplement in 2023
• Vitamin and/or mineral supplements (29.7%) were the most common type of supplement taken
• Adult females were more likely than adult males to take a dietary supplement (43.7% compared to 30.8%)

• One in four (24.9%) people were following a diet or eating pattern in 2023
• Food avoidance (37.9%), energy restriction (30.5%) and single nutrient reduced (e.g. low carb) (24.0%) diets were the most common types of diet or eating pattern
• One in twenty (5.3%) people were vegetarian or vegan

• Average daily consumption of food and beverages was 3.2 kg per person
• One-third (31.3%) of energy intake came from discretionary foods, down from 35.4% in 2011–12
• Free sugars made up 8.2% of energy intake, within the WHO recommendation
• Daily sodium intake was just under 2,400 mg, which is around one teaspoon of salt

• Over one in eight (13.2% or 1.3 million) households experienced food insecurity in 2023
• Lone parent family households with dependent children (34.0%) and group households (27.8%) were the most likely households to experience food insecurity

Information on food and nutrients, diet, food security, sweetened beverages, physical activity, inactivity, and sleep in Australia

• Three in ten (28.9%) people consumed sweetened beverages in 2023
• Almost one in four (23.8%) people consumed soft drinks and flavoured mineral waters
• One quarter (25.4%) of all free sugars consumed were from sweetened beverages

• Six in ten (63.7%) people did not meet their dietary calcium requirements
• Females were more likely to have an inadequate iron intake than males (26.8% compared to 8.2%)
• Nearly two in three (65.6%) adults had a usual sodium intake above the Suggested Dietary Target of 2,000 mg/day or less
• Children between 2 and 11 years generally had adequate intakes of most vitamins and minerals, except for calcium