‘Alarming and depressing’: campaign groups react to fall in 5-a-day consumption

Campaign groups have reacted with dismay to figures showing a sharp fall in fruit and veg consumption, describing them as “deeply alarming”.

Yesterday The Grocer revealed consumption of fruit and veg for households in the UK had fallen sharply, with the government’s National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) showing less than a fifth (17%) of adults and less than one in 10 children aged 11 to 18 met the 5-a-day recommendation.

The previous published NDNS report showed that in years 2016 to 2019, 33% of adults aged 19 to 64 and 12% of children aged 11 to 18 met the 5-a-day recommendation.

Worsening diets

The British Nutrition Foundation (BNF) said the new data showed diets had worsened over the past 20 years. The body is among those backing Tesco’s call for the government to introduce mandatory reporting for supermarkets and major manufacturers on the healthiness of their products.

“The new data shows there has been no real improvement in UK dietary patterns over the past two decades, with an apparent decline in fruit and vegetable intakes, fibre intakes at around 50% of the recommendation, and free sugar intakes at double the recommended limit,” said BNF CEO Elaine Hindal.

“The food industry can play a role in helping address some gaps by including more fibre-rich ingredients, pulses, vegetables and fruits where possible.

“Meeting the recommendations is also likely to require people to do more home cooking to add pulses, whole grains and vegetables to meals, and so we need to look at ways to support people to do this.”

Cost of living concerns

The Food Foundation said the study showed a clear link between the impact of the cost of living crisis and food insecurity on the nutrition of the nation.

It too is calling for the government to introduce mandatory regulation on the food industry.

“The latest figures on UK fruit and veg consumption are alarming and frankly profoundly depressing,” said Rebecca Tobi, Food Foundation senior business and investor engagement manager.

“Just 17% of adults are getting their 5 a day, down from the 33% that met the recommendation in the last National Diet and Nutrition Survey.

“While it’s true that the methodology behind the survey has changed which may explain some of the fall, it’s also true that the last few years have seen many households severely affected by the cost of living crisis and levels of food insecurity have soared as a result.”

Tobi added: “Fruit and veg should be the absolute cornerstone of a healthy diet, so it’s critical that the government and businesses better support citizens by making fruit and veg more available and accessible. Today’s data not only shows that the new Defra food strategy is very much needed, but that it absolutely must take bold action if it is to have any chance of improving the quality of UK diets.

“As a key first step, the government should make it mandatory for all large food businesses to report on what proportion of their sales are coming from healthier food and fruit and veg. This is something that major businesses such as Danone and Tesco are also now calling for.”

The Vegan Society described the findings as “alarming” and urged the government to act on the results.

“The government’s upcoming food strategy must urgently address this ticking timebomb for public health and include measures to dramatically increase fruit and veg consumption in the UK and recommend plant-based diets,” a spokesman said.

“Low intake of fruit, vegetables and fibre is consistently linked to a multitude of chronic health conditions including Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and bowel cancer.

“Governments elsewhere in the world are taking action now to ensure their citizens are able to eat more healthy, sustainable, plant-based foods. Here in the UK, successive governments have been bystanders as diets have deteriorated.

“This new data shows that current efforts are not working.”