Britain’s ever-evolving shopping basket now contains more health and speciality foods.
The ONS updates the national basket every year to represent changing shopping habits in an effort to track the cost of living.
Sweet potato, melons and protein shakes made it onto the list for the first time. Pro-biotic yoghurt drinks, such as Actimel and Yakult, were no longer included. Frozen pizzas were out while chilled ones were in.
Sweet potato sales rose significantly in most major supermarkets as people dropped traditional white varieties, catapulting it into an everyday item and no longer an exotic item.
Asda said sales had "rocketed" alongside kale, cauliflowers and beetroot, as healthier choices became "more mainstream".
Sales of pro-biotic yoghurts dwindled by 20% from 2009 to 2014.
Back on the list after an absence of 16 years was offal with a 13% rise in sales during 2014.
Beer drinkers have turned to craft ales which were included in the basket, despite costing more.
The changes in food consumption were taken as a further sign of increasing faith in the British economy as people were more willing to eat well and try different tastes. During the Great Recession, people concerned about keeping their jobs veered more towards comfort foods.
Other trends were the inclusion of electronic cigarettes, reportedly used by more than two million Brits.
The ONS also said it removed white emulsion paint from the basket in favour of the “change to using more coloured paint for home decoration".
The national shopping basket has 700 goods and services in it. When more than £400 million a year is spent on an item, it usually is included in the mix. But where spending falls below £100 million, it is removed unless there is a good reason for continued inclusion.
