Traditonal mealtime favourite lamb is rapidly falling out of favour with today’s families, new official figures show.
Lamb consumption has dropped in the last 15 years across the UK as a whole, according to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs data.
The sales slump has come in the wake of the decline in the old-style Sunday roast dinner as many families are now too busy to spend hours preparing and eating a meal.
Traditonal mealtime favourite lamb is rapidly falling out of favour with today’s families, new official figures show
But the data shows that in some areas of the UK sales of lamb have dropped by as much as 25 per cent – with the biggest fall in Scotland and the borders.
A new report says: “With those aged 55 years and over making up the lion’s share of the market and under 35s accounting for just 12 per cent, time is ticking for lamb.’
The study, released to mark Love Lamb Week, revealed that while the UK as a whole spends £845 million on lamb a year, London is responsible for consuming a quarter of all lamb sold in Britain.
When it comes to lamb, there is a clear North-South divide with shoppers in London eating 24 per cent more than those in other areas of the UK, equating to 5.7kg of lamb per household every year, compared to just 3.9kg in the North East.
The report says: ‘If you’re wondering what the difference would look like on the kitchen table, this means that Londoners are enjoying an extra nine portions of roast lamb, seven lamb curries, four koftas, three lamb tagines and two extra lamb stir fry each year, compared with those in the North East.’
Some areas of the UK sales of lamb have dropped by as much as 25 per cent – with the biggest fall in Scotland and the borders
Scotland and the borders purchase just six per cent of British lamb annually and those in Yorkshire are enjoying 12 per cent less than the national average.
Now, 12 young sheep farmers and shepherds, who care for flocks across the country, are urging consumers to put lamb back on plates, by demonstrating how tasty, healthy and easy it is to cook.
The awareness week will also focus on how versatile lamb is in cooking, and the health benefits of eating it more often.
Chef Chris Wheeler, who is supporting the campaign, said: “Lamb is one of the tastiest and flavoursome sources of protein and iron. It can be part of the menu any day of the week.”
Love Lamb Week is organised by farming organisations, the Agriculture & Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), the National Sheep Association (NSA) and supported by the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) and to encourage more families to eat lamb.