Poland's consumption of trout has risen by over 50 percent since 2009 despite a global and national decline in fish consumption.
According to data compiled by Poland's Institute of Agricultural and Food Economics, the amount of trout consumed per capita in Poland has leapt from 0.3 kg in 2009 to 0.53 kg.
This is in spite of the fact that during the same period, fish consumption in Poland fell from an average of 13.07 kg per person to 12.56 kg.
The boom in trout, which is by no means considered a cheap fish in Poland, has been in part attributed to current labelling prerequisites, which were streamlined as a result of Poland's accession to the EU in 2004.
“Nowadays you can see exactly who, where and when the fish was produced, and when the expiry date is,” commented Jacek Juchniewicz, chairman of Poland's Trout Producers' Association, in an interview with the Puls Biznesu daily.
“This gives customers a sense of security.”
Analysts have noted that in the case of herring, another staple of the Polish table, consumption has fallen to a record low in sync with Poles' declining taste for vodka, with the two traditionally served together. (nh)
Ewa Malcher
