Joining forces to increase fruit and vegetable consumption
The European Public Health & Agriculture Consortium (EPHAC) together with Freshfel Europe Aprifel and AREFLH called upon the EU Institutions to recognise the importance of increasing access to, and the consumption of, fruit and vegetables. At a briefing lunch at the European Parliament hosted by MEP Esther Herranz Garcia, the organisations jointly advocated for building an ambitious European strategy to reduce inequalities in fruit and vegetable consumption.
The latest edition of the Freshfel Consumption Monitor and other estimates suggest that less than 50% of EU citizens are reaching the recommended consumption levels of a minimum of 400g per day, and that consumption has at best stagnated or at worst is decreasing.
Recent research presented by Professor Ibrahim Elmadfa, University of Vienna, Austria, indicates that there are large discrepancies in fruit and vegetable intake between Member States and socio-economic groups within them. The current financial crisis has further exacerbated existing inequalities in diet, especially among the young and in Europe’s most vulnerable population groups.
Chronic diseases are reaching epidemic levels, and are one of the major challenges in the European Region. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), up to 8 % of health care costs in Europe can be attributed to non-communicable diseases.
Case studies from the UK Healthy Start programme and the US Women, Infant and Children programme, showed that economic incentives can be effective in increasing fruit and vegetable consumption, and improving food environments.
EPHA President Archie Turnbull explained: “Targeting access to a balanced diet including fruit and vegetables and tackling health inequalities are critical elements in the prevention of chronic diseases such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes. Member States’ projects are not enough by themselves and should be reinforced by EU funding and programmes that provide a long term, sustainable framework for implementation”.
It was stressed that effective implementation of the EU School Fruit Scheme (SFS), improving the nutritional quality of the Most Deprived Persons (MDP) scheme and providing economic incentives are crucial to increase consumption and facilitate better integration of agricultural and public health policy at European level.
The event at the European Parliament was held in conjunction with the sixth edition of the EGEA conference (www.egeaconference.com). The purpose of the event was to enable MEPs and representatives from the European Commission and Member States to identify policy options to increase the access to and the consumption of fruit and vegetables.
For more information:
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