Australians put more poultry on the menu

It’s good news for chicken in the economic downturn, according to a survey conducted by Australian specialty chicken retailer, Lenard’s.

In a recent survey of nearly 11,000 Australians, over 57 per cent said that they intended to ‘save’ or ‘pay off debts’ and are turning away from ‘luxury’ meats such as beef, pork and lamb, and putting more chicken on the table as times get tougher.

More than 54 per cent believed chicken is the best value-for-money meat, being eaten at meal times on average 2.3 times a week. Only 25 per cent of respondents believed beef to represent the greatest value.

The research also showed that four in five (82 per cent) surveyed saw beef, lamb and pork products as luxury food items. According to the Meat and Livestock Association’s own current research, consumption of these meats has declined in the last quarter of 2008.