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Asian influence on Canadian menus

An Asian influence is being seen more and more in Canadian cuisine, with statistics indicating growing preferences for rice, seafood and pork.

An Asian influence is being seen more and more in Canadian cuisine, with statistics indicating growing preferences for rice, seafood and pork.

The NPD Group released its Eating Patterns in Canada report Tuesday, noting that Asians comprise 11 per cent of the Canadian population.

Food industry analyst Joel Gregoire says that as the face of Canada’s population continues to change, our eating behaviour follows suit.

The report says that since 2001, the number of meals that include potatoes has decreased by 703 million eatings on an annual basis, while those that include rice have increased by 297 million eatings annually.

It says beef consumption has fallen by 384 million meals annually, while seafood has risen by 248 million meals annually and pork by 372 million meals annually in the same period.

The study also says there has been an increase from 25 annual meals in 2001 that included a flavoured tea drink to 44 in 2011. Green tea was the most popular variety.