Healthy eating drive fails as just one in eight eats enough fruit and veg

Published on Sunday 14 September 2008 22:07

THE majority of Britons fail to eat five portions of fruit and vegetables a day, according to latest research.

A study of the consumer habits of the nation found that only 12 per cent of the population manage the five-a-day target, while another 12 per cent do not eat any portions of fruit and vegetables.

On average, people in Britain eat 2.5 portions a day, but the study found significant differences between age groups, gender and social class.

The most likely groups to meet the target are the most affluent and the over-45s, with children and the less affluent the most likely to consume no portions. The findings follow a report last year which suggested that Scots were slightly more health conscious, with 31 per cent eating at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day.

The five-a-day recommendation is based on a World Health Organisation report which showed that eating 400g of fruit and vegetables a day seemed to reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease, obesity and diabetes.

The most recent study group also identified a rising trend towards large dress sizes among Britons as an indicator of the nation's obesity problems. There are variations across the country, with the proportion of clothes sold in size 18 or above increasing by more than 35 per cent in the last two years in south west England.

The under-25s represent nearly 5 per cent of the national 18-plus market compared with 3 per cent last year, according to global market insight group TNS.

Other findings in the analysis of the buying habits of 25,000 British households and the information on nutrition labels of 100,000 food and drink products bought from supermarkets include the fact that more than half of households bought less salt last year compared with 2006.

In addition, panellists revealed changes in mealtime habits.

Health of Britain – Perspective on Nutrition 2008 found the evening meal was likely to take 34 minutes to prepare in 2008 – less than half the time of a decade ago – but families shared five more meals together every month than they did three years ago.

Snacking levels have declined by 11 per cent in the past three years after two decades of growth.

There were also signs that healthy eating habits were gaining more followers.

TNS said it valued the healthy food market at more than 11 billion a year, growing at almost 8 per cent in value each year.

The number of younger consumers (under-34s) who said they cooked from scratch has grown by 14 per cent over the past two years, but is restricted to savoury foods.

The survey also found that parents appear to be taking more control over their children's eating habits with almost two-thirds of mothers believing their children should eat what they are given – a rise of almost 20 per cent since 2003.

The typical 2008 child's lunchbox includes 16 per cent more fruit, 32 per cent more yoghurt and 25 per cent more vegetables than this time a year ago.

Giles Quick, the managing director of TNS Worldpanel UK usage panels, said: "While the need for five-a-day seems to be common knowledge, the number of us who actually achieve this is shockingly low."