British eating fewer vegetables despite 5-a-day campaign

BRITONS are eating fewer vegetables, in spite of millions being spent on the 5-a-day campaign.

Figures from the fresh produce organisation Freshfel Europe show UK consumers ate 1 per cent more fruit in 2008 compared with the previous five-year average, but vegetable consumption plummeted by 11 per cent, The Grocer magazine reported.

Overall European fruit consumption fell 1 per cent in that period, with vegetable consumption dropping by 14 per cent. Europeans ate an average of 439lb (199kg) of fruit and vegetables per person in 2008, an 8 per cent drop.

The figures follow several years of government-promoted healthy eating campaigns including 5-a-day and the School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme. They also follow a study released this week casting doubt on the cancer-preventing benefits of eating five portions of fruit and vegetables a day.