10 Countries that Are Cutting Back on Their Iconic Foods

Sam Dean

Last week, the shocking news broke that French people are eating less bread than ever before. The situation is so dire that the Observatoire du Pain, the bakers' and millers' lobby, recently started a "Got Milk?"-style ad campaign, with signs asking, "Coucou, tu as pris le pain?" ("Oh hey, did you pick up the bread?")

One of the Observatoire's leaders told the New York Times that the regrettable baguette situation comes from changing eating habits, with citizens of la Republique skipping more meals and coming home from work too late to make it to the bakery on time. But as the world economy changes, and national cuisines evolve with the times, France isn't the only nation that's forsaking its most essential food. Koreans are eating less rice, Argentinians, less beef, and even the Russians are slowing down on vodka. Check out the slideshow to see what other countries are leaving their historical staples behind.

--Additional reporting by Doreen St. Felix and Lucy Nieboer

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