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What does Google tell us about food in 2010?

It’s the time of year when Google, Yahoo, Twitter etc report on their trends for the year, but they’re never very interesting to me, as 90% of the searches seem to cover celebs I’ve never heard of. But using the Google trends facility and putting in food gave out some interesting searches that are on the up in the UK. Here’s the top 10:

1. food vouchers – is there anyone who eats out on the High Street without first checking for a voucher or discount code? Can Pizza Express ever go back to charging full price? If the predictions of the economy growing worse are true, and the cost of food going up, then I think there will be more customers looking for these, and more restaurants having to do deals, just to stay open. Better open and busy at a 30% margin than open with no one in at full price.

2. good food recipes – I’m guessing that no one searches on bad food recipes though? Of course BBC Good Food dominates this, and I guess this recognises that more people are searching online for recipes. Which makes me wonder what they do with all the cookbooks they buy? Are they just for show? For reading in the bedroom?

3. bbc food recipes – see number 2. Seems the BBC have food all sewn up on the search front.

4. food poisoning symptoms – oh dear. Perhaps this is indicative of more home cooking, or perhaps even more foraging and wild food hunting. If you don’t know what it is, don’t pick and don’t eat. And what you are cooking, cook properly!

5. food hygiene certificate – notice the poisoning comes first. Not sure if that means the cooking is happening before the certification, but at least hygiene is on the way up. As opposed to food poisoning, which one would hope you can keep down.

6. pets at home – I love Google. I have no idea how you would get from food to pets at home. Personally I think it’s always best not to confuse food and pets. Certainly if you have cats, dogs or hamsters.

7. party food ideas – I would guess this is rising over the last few weeks, but I say hurray! Throw more parties with decent food. So far we have had a Mexican Strictly Come Dancing final party, and we shall be doing an Italian feast for New Year’s Eve. And somewhere in the middle I think there is room for a full on retro party moment. Bring on the cheese & pineapple hedgehog, a cheese fondue and a Black Forest gateau.

8. food recipes – not very original these searches, are they?

9. co-op food – I think this has probably been a really interesting year for the Co-Op, and it may well continue. They’re an interesting mix to me of real value driven food, and then really values driven, with their commitment to fair trade animal welfare and environmental issues. Their food also seems to have done well in taste tests over the Christmas period, so interesting to watch out for their financial results in the weeks ahead.

10. Caribbean food – not sure what might be driving this up. Levi Roots’ series was great, both in terms of recipes and stunning locations. And maybe as the weather has turned really cold everyone has just been wanting to summon up some sunny warmth in their food. The top result returned on this search is for the Caribbean Food Emporium, which has a fantastic range of recipes for every kind of occasion and meal. Break out the rum, and bring a little sunshine into the British winter.

I am not sure what we can conclude about the state of food in Britain, but it will be an interesting year to watch. Particularly when looking back and seeing that 2008 was all about Channel 4, Jamie Oliver and his Ministry of Food. And pets at home.

What can I say? Plus ca change…!

Google in Lego shot by manfrys.