Tasmanians should be wary of data showing they are spending the least on fast food out of all of the states, according to Healthy Tasmania.
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A Commonwealth Bank report released this month revealed the average Tasmanian spends $79.01 on fast food every month, ahead of only the ACT ($74.65) and the Northern Territory ($74.22).
Overall, the bank found that its customers are spending more than $640 million per month on fast food and restaurants, with millennials making up the largest portion of people who dine out on a regular basis.
Healthy Tasmania managing director Lucy Byrne said the data only showed part of the picture.
“Although the data from CBA is interesting, it is not clear from the report how the data has been analysed, how it relates to an individual’s income and whether or not people are making healthy food choices, be it at a supermarket, a restaurant or a take away,” she said.
“What we do know from research is that 75 per cent of Tasmanians are not eating the recommended servings of fruit and vegetables each day and up to 50 000 Tasmanians are living in areas called ‘food deserts’, meaning they struggle to access healthy food despite the great produce we grow in our state.
“To find the ‘real’ cost of food spending choices, we’d need to understand exactly what people are eating, how it effects their health, and how it relates to their income.”