The Economic Benefits of Fruit and Vegetable Consumption

Dr Krueger and his team of researchers completed a careful analysis of fruit and vegetable consumption patterns of Canadians between 2000 and 2013 and estimated the economic burden associated with low consumption. This was published in the Canadian Journal of Public Health.

The purposes of this study were to:

Annual Economic Burden of Inadequate Fruit and Vegetable Consumption

Which risk factors were identified?

Your mother was right. Eating vegetables is good for you.

Evidence indicating a protective effect of fruit and vegetable consumption on coronary heart and cerebrovascular disease was both consistent and compelling. The evidence for cancers was less clear. 

Over three quarters of Canadians were not meeting Canada's Food Guide recommendations regarding the number of daily servings of fruits and vegetables. In order to determine the economic burden of this dietary neglect, both direct costs of illness and indirect costs associated with illness were assessed. For example, direct cots included hospital care, physician services, other health care professionals, drugs and so on. Indirect costs included short-term disability, long-term disability and premature mortality.

What was the economic burden?

The annual economic burden was $4.39 billion in 2013.

How much could Canada save if fruit and vegetable consumption improved?