Shifts in US eating habits increase pressure on the wheat market

Demand for wheat flour in the United States continues to decline amid changing consumer preferences. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), wheat milled for flour in the first quarter of 2026 fell by 2% compared with the same period last year, while overall flour production dropped by more than 10%.

Analysts link this trend to the growing popularity of high-protein diets and the increasing use of weight-loss medications that suppress appetite. As a result, Americans are buying fewer baked goods, desserts, muffins, and other flour-based products, instead favoring foods with higher protein content.

The situation is further reinforced by a structural shift in dietary behavior, particularly among younger consumers who are increasingly moving toward alternative carbohydrate sources or reducing baked product consumption altogether. This not only creates a short-term demand slowdown but also raises concerns about a longer-term contraction of the domestic wheat consumption base.

Tags: flour, USA