Data from the latest National Diet and Nutrition Survey shows that the UK’s five-a-day consumption fell to its lowest level on record.
The proportion of adults meeting the recommended five-a-day target has slumped to just 27 per cent, down from a third 33% the year before – marking a significant step backwards in the nation’s diet. Average daily portions dropped even further among children aged 11 to 18 to just 2.5 per cent (down from 3.5 per cent), the lowest figure since records began.
Katharine Jenner, Director of the Obesity Health Alliance, described the results as “alarming and depressing”, adding: “We’ve been told to eat our five-a-day for nearly 25 years, but consumption is actually going backwards. With food prices rising, healthier options like fruit and veg are increasingly unaffordable for many families.”
Veg Power’s Chief Executive, Dan Parker, added, “The data shows how far we still need to go to make vegetables desirable, convenient and accessible. Families are overwhelmed – time-poor, cash-strapped and struggling to prioritise nutrition.”
Meanwhile, the British Nutrition Foundation said the results highlight an urgent need for more consistent government support. “These findings must act as a wake-up call,” a spokesperson said. “Without intervention, we risk a generation growing up without the benefits of a healthy, balanced diet.”
The government has said it remains committed to promoting healthy eating and pointed to initiatives like the School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme, but many campaigners say such action this falls far short of what’s needed to address poor diets.
The National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) is designed to assess the diet, nutrient intake and nutritional status of the general UK population. Participants aged 18 months and over living in private households are selected each year from all 4 UK countries. The survey aims to collect data from a UK representative core sample of 1,000 people per year: 500 adults (aged 19 years and over) and 500 children (aged 18 months to 18 years). Additional addresses were selected in Northern Ireland (NI) to increase the NI sample size and enable comparisons to be made with the UK as a whole.
On social media, nutritionist Ali Morpeth called for more action to restrict the sale of unhealthy foods, as well as better promotion and lower prices of healthy foods (not just fruit and veg). She also urged investors to back healthy food categories.
