The line graph illustrates the weekly consumption of three staple foods—potatoes, pasta, and rice—in a European country over a thirty-year period from 1976 to 2006.
Overall, it is clear that pasta became the most consumed food item by the end of the period, whereas potato consumption saw a dramatic decline. Rice remained the least popular option, showing only minor fluctuations.
In 1976, potatoes were the most popular choice at 410 grams per person per week, peaking at 450 grams in 1981. However, this figure subsequently plummeted, falling steadily to just 110 grams by 2006. Conversely, pasta consumption started at 260 grams in 1976 and rose consistently. By 1986, it equalled potato consumption at 400 grams, before overtaking it to reach a plateau of 500 grams from 1996 onwards.
Rice consumption followed a different pattern, starting at 300 grams in 1976 and declining to a low of 175 grams in 1996. Following this, there was a slight recovery, with consumption rising to 210 grams by the end of the period in 2006, remaining significantly lower than both pasta and potatoes.