Verzehr

Verzehr is a German noun that denotes the act of consuming something, especially food and drink. It refers to the intake of substances by the body and is used to describe eating and drinking behavior in everyday language as well as in nutrition, health, and science. The term is formed from the verb verzehren, meaning to consume or devour; the noun emphasizes the process or amount of consumption rather than the food itself.

In nutrition and public health, Verzehr is used to discuss dietary intake, such as "Verzehr von Obst und Gemüse" or "empfohlener Verzehr von Kalorien." It appears in research, surveys, and dietary recommendations to quantify how much people eat. In consumer information and food packaging, related forms such as verzehrfertig (ready to eat) or Verzehrhinweise (consumption instructions) are common, guiding preparation and consumption.

In economics and everyday speech, Verzehr can also mean the consumption of goods and services by households, a component of overall demand. The English equivalents are consumption or ingestion, depending on context. The term remains neutral and standard across German-speaking regions, used across academia, media, and everyday discourse.