Study On The Characteristics And Influence Factors Of Food Consumption Of Chinese Residents

Residents’ diet structure adjustment speeds up and food demand changes gradually from full to pursuiting a balance diet in the process of an overall well-off society. The substitution between different kinds of food is changing gravely under the total amount remained stable. This article studies the the characteristics and influence factors of food consumption in the view of historical evolution, and then build a model with data from investigation to analys is, aimed at assessing the current dietary changes in the structure of demand changes, so as to guide the food production structure adjustment and upgrading.This article studies the trend of structure changes in the food consumption and consumption characteristics of different kinds of food:(1) The total consumption has risen steadily over the last more than 50 years, and the average annual growth rate of animal food which is 4.9% is faster than plant foods. Staple food consumption gradually decreased and at the same time, the proportion of animal food consumption is significantly increased.(2) Poultry meat gradually instead of pork, and beef and mutton consumption accounted for is relatively stable, but aquatic products and dairy food consumption and proportion in recent years showing rapid growth.(3)In the early time, food consumption amount was limited by the shortage of supply and latter drived by the growth of demand. People prefer animal food based on supply and their income under the maintenance of energy supply. Their choices are affected by economic growth and increase in income with the same direction in the timing and consistency.(4) Residents’ food consumption is very different among urban and rural. Urban residents has a balanced dietary while rural residents are excessive intake of grain and inadequate intaken of dairy products and aquatic products. There is a big gap between supply and demand of dairy and aquatic products in the prediction in 2020.In the empirical analysis, this article builds the model according to the household survey data in 20 provinces to analyze the inf luence factors. As a conclusion, in addition to the traditional factors such as income and prices, consumer preference, health awareness and regional development level factors also play an important role. The income level of urban residents in aquatic products and dairy food effect is the most signif icant, the influence coefficient were 0.20, but for other kinds of food produced is not obvious. Areas, regional differences, diet structure and preferences factors influence the food consumption obviously, which means the influence of the dominant factors such as income and price decreases and the influence of the recessive factors such as diet, education and age increases when consumers make the decisions.According to the above research conclusion, this article puts forward policy suggestions as follows: First, develop the scale of agriculture and modernization to improve the efficiency of agricultural production, increase farmers’ income and improve the living standards of farmers. Second, adjust agriculture production structure by food consumption demand. Reduce the staple food and increase the feeding grain and animal husbandry and aquaculture will be developed vigorously. Third, put forward scientific dietary patterns and guide residents to adjust to a more healthy diet to cultivate residents’ food safety awareness and improve the physical quality of the whole people.