Informed

Increasing fruit and vegetable consumption

In autumn this year, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs published the first First Report from the Council of Food Policy Advisors on food sustainability, public health and food policy [1]. The report aimed to help policy makers meet such challenges as providing a sustainable and healthy food supply, reducing the impact of food production on the environment and increasing food security.

A strategy to increase fruit and vegetable consumption was identified as a priority by the Council. According to the report, the cost to the NHS of poor nutrition is estimated at £6 billion a year. There is strong evidence that fruits and vegetables help reduce the risk of cancers of the oesophagus, stomach, mouth, larynx and pharynx. Fruits also help reduce the risk of lung cancer [2].

The report highlighted that increasing consumption will drive the need to increase production of fruits and vegetables. In recent years there has been increasing interest from consumers in buying local and seasonal food. A key challenge will be to find a sustainable way to increase UK fruit and vegetable production to increase self-sufficiency and reduce environmental impact.

Recommendations to increase fruit and vegetable consumption

The Council identified a series of key recommendations for policy makers to increase fruit and vegetable intake:

• Encourage greater food education in schools focusing on the importance of fruits and vegetables in the diet
• Renew and reinvigorate the 5 A DAY message to include a focus on seasonality
• Support small stores across the UK particularly in more deprived areas
• Make fruits and vegetables a priority in the public health agenda

The WCRF/AICR Policy Report [5] also found that price and availability can influence fruit and vegetable intake.

To read more about UK fruit and vegetable consumption statistics, visit our diet, lifestyle and weight statistics section.

References

1. Defra, First Report from the Council of Food Policy Advisors, 2009
2. WCRF/AICR. Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Prevention of Cancer: a Global Perspective. Washington DC: AICR, 2007
3. The NHS Information Centre, Statistics on Obesity, Physical Activity and Diet: England, 2009
4, The Strategy Unit, Food Matters: Towards a Strategy for the 21st Century, 2008
5.WCRF/AICR Policy and Action for Cancer Prevention. Food, Nutrition, and Physical Activity: a Global Perspective. Washington DC: AICR, 2009