Total U.S. per capita consumption of natural cheese increased for the third straight year in 2013. Americans consume more Italian style cheeses than other types, followed by American style cheeses. Over the past few decades, total U.S. per capita consumption of processed cheeses has been on a downward trend, and fell for the third straight year in 2013.
- Total U.S. per capita consumption of natural cheese reached a record 33.7 pounds in 2013. This was 0.4 percent higher than 2012 when the previous record high was set.
- 2013 per capita consumption of cheddar cheese increased by 1 percent to 9.66 pounds. This was 0.79 pounds less than the record per capita consumption set in 2006. Per capita consumption of other American style cheese fell slightly in 2013 from 2012’s record high to 3.7 pounds.
- Total per capita consumption of Italian style cheese increased slightly in 2013 to 14 pounds. This was still less than the record of 14.09 pounds set in 2011.
- Among other cheese types, per capita consumption of Swiss cheese fell by 4.5 percent in 2013. At 1.05 pounds, per capita consumption of Swiss cheese has declined by 16.7 percent since 2007.
- Per capita consumption of Hispanic cheese increased in 2013 by nearly 6 percent to 0.71 pounds.
- At 6.37 pounds, 2013 per capita consumption of processed cheese products was the lowest since 1974, declining 3.9 percent from 2012.
Updated April 2014
