ABSTRACT
The European Union (EU) is experiencing an integration process, which has accelerated in the current decade. Any integration process has several effects on the countries involved, including trade liberalization, internationalization of industries, distribution channels and markets, harmonization of economic parameters and similar harmonization of public policies. The allocation of food calorie intake to specific products has been changing during the period of study. However, some differences between Mediterranean and northern countries are still important. Mediterranean countries have a higher consumption of cereals and of fruit and vegetables than the other countries. This chapter concerns to ask whether food consumption behaviour is becoming standardized; or, in other words, to see if a convergence process is taking place as far as the reactions to changes in total calorie intake (elasticities). Total food consumption, and its distribution among different food products have been changing in the last few years.
