Policy solutions to close boost consumption, healthy and economic benefits

the last briefing Note #4 just released this week by the Global Coalition for Fresh Produce (GCFP) shows that people who eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables live longer, healthier lives, and significantly reduce the financial burden on national healthcare systems; that average intake levels for fruits and vegetables remain far below official recommendations; how insufficient intake levels affect public health, and how poor nutrition may soon overwhelm healthcare systems.

Tax reductions impact health

Policy recommendations of the global coalition include subsidy and taxation tools, how to shape school and other food environments, national dietary guidelines, educational and information campaigns, how to improve the efficiency and resilience of fresh produce supply chains.

Double investment returns with school schemes

School-based food interventions have been found to result in significant increases in the intake of fresh produce servings among schoolchildren. A systematic review of 91 school food interventions in North America, Europe, and New Zealand found that the direct provisioning of fruits and vegetables in schools resulted in an overall increase in children’s produce intake of 0.28 servings/day. Meanwhile school meal standards focusing on the nutritional quality of school lunches, increased fruit intake by 0.76 servings/day. It is estimated that in the United States of America, every dollar spent on healthy school meals generates nearly two dollars in human health and economic benefits.

5 or more daily portions reduces 30% all-cause mortality

The more fruit and vegetables people eat, the less likely they are to die at any age. A study into the eating habits of the English population found that eating seven or more portions of fruit and vegetables a day reduces the risk of death at any point in time by 42 percent compared to eating less than one portion, and is linked to a 25 percent reduced risk of dying from cancer and a 31 percent reduced risk of dying from heart disease. Meanwhile, a study in Spain established that individuals who consume five or more portions of fruits and vegetables per day lower their all-cause mortality by 30 percent, cardiovascular mortality by 35 percent, and cancer mortality by 16 percent, compared to those who consume less than one portion of fruits and vegetables per day. Source: GCFP.

For more information on policy recomendations to boost F&V consumption benefits you can click here.