Fruit and Vegetable Consumption in the United States

Szabó, Imola – Lehota, József

Keywords: USA, fruit and vegetable consumption, food consumption, promotion programs, E21, M31, O51, Q11

The “5 A Day – for Better Health” program was launched in USA, with the aim to promote the intake of daily fruits and vegetables. Nowadays, 10% of the population consumes the recommended portion fruits and vegetables in USA. Among the 9-12 grades student, at the national level, the proportion of those who do not consume vegetables and fruit daily is 35-40%, and this rate is not much more favorable among adults. Average daily intake of vegetable and fruit per person does not reach the recommended minimum of 400 grams for many years. The canned vegetables consumption and the fruit intake as juice are more common than fresh and raw. The current Dietary Guidelines uses a symbol, MyPlate, to draw American consumers’ attention to healthy diet. The reasons of low fruit and vegetable intake are the lifestyle, the price, the preferences, the ages, the gender and the nationality. Although the goal of achieving fruit and vegetable intake has not been met in the US, the use of a consumption survey could be adapted in other countries, even in Hungary, in order to gain a more accurate picture of the actual consumption of fruit and vegetables.

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