Quantity and quality trends of food purchases in France

Summary We analyze the evolution of food purchases for home consumption in France between 2002 and 2019 and examine the implications for both diet quality and environmental outcomes. To do so, we construct a unique longitudinal dataset of French households’ food purchases from 2002 to 2019, which we merge with detailed nutritional information and environmental footprint indicators. Over this period, the total quantity of food purchased increased smoothly by more than 10%. However, aggregate trends mask substantial heterogeneity across food categories. Purchases of cereals, fruits and vegetables, appetizers, and ready-to-eat meals increased markedly, while dairy purchases declined and changes within meat and fish categories were more uneven. Prices also increases by 25% over the whole period. These shifts in food purchases have important nutritional implications. We use the Nutrient Profiling Model (NPM) to assess changes in the nutritional quality of the diet. Our results show increases in both healthy components, such as fruits and vegetables, fiber, and protein, and unhealthy components, particularly sodium and, to a lesser extent, saturated fats, sugar and energy content. While purchases shift towards products with lower sugar content, total sugar intake increased by about 10% due to larger quantities purchased, suggesting that making better choices does not necessarily result in an overall better diet. The analysis also reveals substantial heterogeneity across food categories. Some food categories appear structurally unhealthy, while others display considerable dispersion, indicating room for substitution within food categories towards healthier products. We also observe substantial heterogeneity across households: the quality of the diet is positively correlated with age and income, and negatively correlated with the obesity status. Improvements in nutritional quality can be compatible with reductions in environmental impact. While the overall environmental footprint of the diet remained relatively stable over the period, meat, fish, and eggs account for the largest share. Reductions in purchases within these categories would therefore be associated with meaningful improvements in the environmental footprint of diets. The panel data analysis corroborates and enriches these findings from the graphical analysis. We identify that nutritional quality significantly varies across demographic and socioeconomic groups. Older individuals, wealthier households, and families with young children tend to consume healthier diets. In contrast, obese individuals and those from more modest income groups exhibit poorer dietary profiles. While income levels are closely associated with nutritional quality, their influence on environmental outcomes appears insignificant. On the other hand, relative prices have a significant impact, where higher prices of healthy or eco-friendly foods correspond to worse nutritional and environmental outcomes, highlighting the role of affordability in shaping consumption patterns. These insights carry direct implications for public policy. The deterioration of nutritional quality over time and the disparities observed across population groups call for targeted measures. Policies that support lower-income households in accessing nutrient-dense and sustainably produced foods are pertinent within this context. Fiscal tools such as subsidies on healthy and eco-friendly foods or taxes on ultra-processed, high-sodium products could help shift consumption behaviors. Moreover, increasing awareness about the dual benefits of healthier diets, not only for individual well-being but also for environmental sustainability, can be instrumental in fostering long-term change. Funding acknowledgementBrightSpace is funded by the European Union. Grant Agreement No. 101060075. Views and opinions expressed are those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.UK Research and Innovation Project Code: 10047415 https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=10047415 CitationBonnet, C. , Goulao, C. (2026) Quantity and quality trends of food purchases in France. Working paper. BrightSpace Horizon Europe project Grant Agreement No. 101060075 Legal noticeThis document was produced under the terms and conditions of Grant Agreement No. 101060075 for the European Commission. It does not necessary reflect the view of the European Union and in no way anticipates the Commission’s future policy in this area. The European Commission is not liable for any consequence stemming from the reuse of this publication.© BrightSpace, 2026The reuse of this document is authorised under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC-BY 4.0) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). This means that reuse is allowed provided appropriate credit is given and any changes are indicated. For any use or reproduction of elements that are not owned by the BrightSpace consortium, permission may need to be sought directly from the respective right holders. Project informationBrightSpace Horizon Europe project Grant Agreement No. 101060075 https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101060075 CALL: Innovative governance, environmental observations and digital solutions in support of the Green Deal WORK PROGRAMME Topic ID: HORIZON-CL6-2021-GOVERNANCE-01-12 EU agriculture within a safe and just operating space and planetary boundariesBrightSpace Project coordination: Wageningen Economic Research, The Hague, NL Contact: brightspace.wser@wur.nl | Website: www.brightspace-project.euProject duration: 1 November 2022 – 31 October 2027