As food prices rise, we increasingly opt out of fruit and vegetables. This may pose a risk to public health in the long term, according to a report from the Swedish Food Agency. – We are concerned and especially if this continues, says Karin Fritz, advisor at the Swedish Food Agency. Just over a thousand people aged 18-84 have responded to the survey conducted by the Swedish Food Agency at the beginning of 2023. Just over one in three say they buy less fruit this year compared to last year and four in ten say they buy less fresh vegetables. 500 grams a day The Swedish Food Agency believes that there is a risk of worsening public health in the long term, as fruit and vegetables reduce the risk of, among other things, obesity, cardiovascular diseases and certain types of cancer. – We are concerned and especially if this continues. We need to eat a lot of vegetables and fruits. The advice is to eat 500 grams of fruit and vegetables every day, but even before the increase in food prices, far too few of Sweden’s consumers ate it, she continues. Lower income – less green The Swedish Food Agency has also checked how income affects what you buy and the difference is large. Among households with the lowest income, almost half say they buy less vegetables. And among those with the highest income, it is one in four. – There are really big differences and if it is the case that different groups buy different amounts of vegetables based on this, there is a risk of unequal health. We want to point out that this risk exists and it is important to do something about it, says Karin Fritz. In order to get enough fruit and vegetables despite the high prices, Karin Fritz advises, among other things, to buy frozen vegetables, which are just as useful as fresh ones, and shop according to season.
t4-general
Food prices can affect public health – “We are concerned”
