Consumption of F&Vs is low among residents of socioeconomically disadvantaged communities. Researchers therefore investigated and compared retail F&V availability in urban and rural underserved communities in New York State. The urban minority neighborhood had the most barriers to fresh F&Vs in retail outlets, even when compared with the rural community. Public health intervention strategies to increase retail F&V availability in urban minority neighborhoods may aid in mitigating health disparities.
Archive for category Fruits and vegetables
F&V and fish in trouble
Sep 16
Researchers at FDA analyzed Import Refusal Reports for food shipments refused entry into U.S. commerce between 1998 and 2004. Adulteration violations were examined closely, particularly those linked to pathogen contamination. The top trouble makers interms of improper sanitation were: 1. Vegetables and vegetable products (21% of total violations). 2. Fishery and seafood products (20 %); and 3. Fruits and fruit products (12 percent).
All 263 food retail stores and farmers’ markets in downtown Albany and in Columbia and Greene counties in New York State were visited and surveyed. F&V status was calculated for each shop and density of F&V shops per 10.000 inhabitants were calculated.
325 Canadian students from four junior high schools had their food use, grade, sex, and academic performance recorded. Students with higher academic performance were more likely to consume milk, vegetables, and fruit daily than were those who reported lower grades.
896 adolescents from 20 randomly selected Norwegian elementary schools were stidied in 2002 and 2005. Perceived accessibility appears to be the strongest mediator of FV intake and parents’ educational level and income may therefore be an important target for future interventions that aim to reduce socioeconomic disparities in adolescents’ FV intake.
Dietary data were collected from 92 children in grades 2 to 4 through 24-hour dietary recalls (39% participation rate). The majority of students did not consume the recommended five daily servings of vegetables and fruit. Researchers recommend healthy snack programs and educational programs.
Now supermarkets are competing with farm stands and farmers’ markets for a wider variety of fresh fruits and vegetables.
researcher at the University of Florence reviewed reviewed 12 international studies which included more than 1.5 million people for follow-up periods of three to 18 years. Sticking strictly to a Mediterranean diet rich in F&V was associated with a 9 percent drop in death from heart disease, a 13 percent reduction in incidence of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease and a 6 percent reduction in cancer. The study is published today in the British Medical Journal Online First.
The investigation found a modest protective benefit for fruit and vegetable consumption in men but not in women. The benefit was stronger for colon cancer than rectal cancer, and eating grains was not linked to colorectal cancer.
The Australian Just Add Fruit & Veg campaign focuses on ‘Dinner’ and comes with a multitude of great ideas to boost F&V intake whether you’re preparing favourite family meals and desserts at home, eating out, or getting takeaway. Download tips here.