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Abstract
The choice among several concepts of food consumption depends upon what is to be
studied, whether a farm problem, a marketing problem, or a problem at the level of
consumer purchase or food intake. That choice will largely determine the selection
among possible measures of food consumption. No single measure of changes in food
consumption can be designed to meet every need. In this paper, the meanings of
food consumption that are set forth, together with their related measures, are those
involved in questions frequently raised by Government analysts and information
specialists, by nutritionists, farm organizations, advertising agencies, and journalists,
and by businessmen in the food industries, and other interested individuals. As the
author indicates, the intrinsic differences among the several meanings of food consumption
are so significant that they materially affect the conclusions drawn from
the analysis of specific problems.