Only 22 per cent of people in the UK are eating 5 A DAY, a study for the World Cancer Research Fund has found.
The survey was carried out earlier this month and discovered that almost 10 years since the launch of the department of health campaign, just one-in-five Britons is eating the recommended five portions of fruit and vegetables.
YouGov carried out the study for WCRF among the UK adult population, the results of which it has published - nearly 10 years since the department of health introduced the 5 A DAY campaign. The study was commissioned as part WCRF’s Cancer Prevention Week, which started on May 14 and featured the annual awareness and fundraising campaign Fruity Friday on 18 May.
WCRF head of education Kate Mendoza said: “These figures show that many people are still finding it difficult to follow the healthy-eating message. Getting at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day is the building block of a healthy diet.
"Not only are fruit and veg a good source of nutrients, they also tend to be low in calories and full of fibre so help us maintain a healthy weight… Although people are more aware of the significance of eating 5 A DAY than they used to be, it is clear that there are still barriers to incorporating plant foods into our daily diets.”
This year, WCRF is encouraging people to eat ‘”just one more” portion of fruit or vegetables in a bid to boost consumption levels.
The research showed, on average, that 17 per cent of lower income households (social groups C2, D and E) get at least five portions per day, compared to 27 per cent for those in higher income groups A, B and C1.
Around England and Wales, fruit and vegetable consumption levels were lowest in northern England, where 18 per cent answered that they had five or more portions daily. The highest levels of consumption were reported in the southern England, where 26 per cent said they ate at least five portions. Figures elsewhere were 21 per cent for London, 22 per cent for Scotland, 23 per cent for both the Midlands and Wales and 24 per cent for eastern England.
