Department of Health

Website of the Department of Health

Please note that this website has a UK government access keys system.

You are here:

Diet

2.17 After smoking, what people eat is the next biggest contributor to cancer deaths, and may be responsible for up to a third of all cancer deaths. A healthy diet is one that is high in fruit and vegetables and cereals, and low in fat, salt and sugar.

2.18 Increasing fruit and vegetable consumption is considered the second most effective strategy to reduce the risk of cancer, after reducing smoking. In particular, people who do not eat fruit and vegetables regularly are at greater risk of several common cancers, including colorectal and stomach cancers. There is evidence that people who eat at least five portions of fruit or vegetables a day are much better protected against cancer and heart disease than those who don't. A change to a diet that is rich in fruit and vegetables can reduce the risk of death from cancer in those under 75 within the following ten years.

2.19 In the UK the average consumption is only about three portions a day. There are large differences between different social groups. Those in low income groups eat substantially less fruit and vegetables than those in the highest income groups, and this contributes, with smoking, to the cancer health gap in England.

2.20 People make their own choices about what to eat, but too many people feel a diet rich in fruit and vegetables is not a real option. Affordable fruit and vegetables are not always accessible, particularly for those in deprived communities, and families may be reluctant to buy food that may not be eaten. It is also partly due to attitudes and awareness. The specific health benefits of fruit and vegetables in preventing cancer and heart disease are not widely known, and many people think they are already eating enough.

New action to improve diet

2.21 A national five-a-day programme Working closely with the food industry, the Food Standards Agency, and key stakeholders, the government will develop a national five-a-day programme to increase access to fruit and vegetables and make a healthy diet a real choice for everyone. It will include a communications campaign to start in 2001. The government will also work with producers, retailers and others to increase provision and access to fruit and vegetables - particularly in deprived communities, schools and hospitals.

2.22 Local five-a-day initiatives are already underway. Five pilot sites, in Sandwell, Somerset, Airedale and Craven, County Durham and Hastings have been set up to increase consumption of fruit and vegetables across the whole population, through coordinated, evidence-based and practical interventions. These projects are being carefully evaluated.

The five-a-day pilot sites

Sandwell

  • Preparing a food map of northern Sandwell, showing the price and availability of over 70 foods in 300 shops
  • Aiming to provide a community food service to 1000 residents, with free home delivery of groceries
  • Promoting fruit and vegetable intake through a football coaching scheme and sponsorship of West Bromwich Albion's children's football teams
  • A community café, with fruit tastings

Somerset

  • Making fruit and vegetables available from the Intervention Board to four institutions
  • Developing a village shop scheme
  • Developing opportunities to 'grow your own'
  • Running competitions with local schools

Airedale and Craven

  • Training sessions in over 20 health centres
  • Working with local supermarkets and retailers to promote fruit and vegetables
  • Developing a food network in the area and map food outlets
  • Developing school food initiatives to promote fruit and vegetables

County Durham

  • Promoting fruit and vegetable gardens and allotments
  • Tasting and cooking sessions in local shops
  • Pricing of fruit and vegetables in food retailers and farmers' markets
  • Flyers in wage slips to employees
  • Cookery demonstrations in GP surgeries and health centres

Hastings

  • Setting up local food co-ops which will also deliver produce to the home
  • Providing training to local shopkeepers
  • Working with local primary care teams to promote fruit and vegetable consumption
  • Setting up breakfast clubs with fruit included
  • Promoting use of community allotments

2.23 Learning the lessons from the pilot schemes, and based on evidence of effective interventions to increase fruit and vegetable consumption, the national roll-out of local five-a-day initiatives will begin in 2002. It will link with Health Improvement Programmes (and to the Healthy Community Collaborative).

Access keys