The five portions of fruit and vegetables a day recommended by government are not enough, and only a paltry number of British adults are reaching the daily minimum of three portions, nutrition scientists claim.
Awareness is increasing, nutritionist Fiona Hunter (pictured) said, “but sadly that increase in awareness isn’t reflected in consumption.”
She said the average daily intake of fruit and vegetables in the UK is around 250g a day - around half of what people in the Mediterranean eat. Men in the UK eat 2.7 portions and women 2.9 portions a day.
Research suggests that just 21 per cent of the UK population - one in five adults - reach the 5 A DAY target, and only four per cent of women and no men aged 19-24 eat five portions daily.
A staggering 31 per cent of men and 18 per cent of British women eat no vegetables at all in the course of a typical week.
She also noted some regional differences in consumption. Welsh pepole eat the most fruit and vegetables on average, at around 3.5 portions a day, English people eat 3.3. Scots and the Northern Irish only manage about two portions.
She told delegates there was firm evidence to show eating more than five portions of fruit and vegetables a day could significantly reduce the risk of chronic illnesses - heart disease by 20-40 per cent, and stroke by 25 per cent - and said the fresh produce industry needed to make it easier for consumers to get their 5 A DAY.
“The average time spent cooking an evening meal is 20 minutes, so we need to make it easy and convenient,” Hunter told delegates at the British Leafy Salads Association Conference. “Bagged salads definitely tick that box. We need to help consumers understand that bagged salads can be just as healthy as fresh salads, that salad can be more than a bit on the side, that it’s not just for girls and it’s not just for summer, so there’s a lot of work there,” she added. l
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