The findings are the result of the Food Standards Agency's (FSA) national diet and nutrition survey of adult eating patterns since 1987, but the averages mask individual highs and lows for certain products and consumer groups.

For example, men on average eat 2.7 portions and women 2.9. But females in the 50-64 year age range eat 3.7 portions on average with 22 per cent of all women in this group eating five or more compared to 24 per cent of men. In the whole population, just 13 per cent of men and 15 per cent of women reach the target five portions a day.

And in the youngest age group of 19-24-year olds, there has been no increase in fruit and vegetable consumption at all over the past 15 years. Worryingly too, consumption is lower than national average in households in receipt of benefits; 2.1 portions for men and 1.9 for women respectively.

The Food Standards Agency welcomed some of the findings but is continuing its research. 'There has been a welcome increase in the amount of fruit and vegSeaten by some groups,' said Alette Weaver, head of dietary surveys at the FSA. 'This is most evident in the older age groups, and particularly in women. But some groups are showing little or no improvement in eating well. We are continuing to analyse this information to see whether people are getting all the nutrients they need for health.

However, bananas in particular were singled out for their achievement since 1987 chalking up a 300 per cent increase. This finding by the survey was welcomed by the Banana Group's Lindsey Morgan 'This is an accolade for the fact that the Banana Group has stuck to its single-minded call to action: Bananergy,' said Morgan. 'It was the Banana Group that first identified bananas' unique combination of nutrients as not only a boost to blood sugar levels, but the fact that eating bananas allows you to hold on to blood sugar levels for longer – eating two bananas gives you enough energy for a 90-minute work-out.'

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