AUSVEG is urging Australians to increase their vegetable intake, following the release of the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) figures that indicate only six per cent of Australians are eating the daily recommended volume of vegetables.

Figures taken from the Australian Health Survey: Nutrition – State and Territory results, 2011-12, which tracked the eating habits of Australians for each State and Territory, show that the proportion of people over the age of two meeting the recommended daily levels of vegetables ranged between nine per cent in Tasmania to as low as five per cent in Queensland, the Northern Territory and the ACT.

“These latest figures from the ABS are concerning, as they detail the low levels of Australians eating the recommended intake of vegetables to maintain a healthy diet,” said AUSVEG spokesperson Shaun Lindhe.

“The vegetable industry is actively working with consumers to discover what people want from their vegetables and how our growers can tailor their product to meet their needs, in an effort to increase vegetable consumption.”

“We know from previous studies that a high proportion of Australians eat vegetables regularly, but this new data suggests they need to eat more.”

“Industry consumer research has shown that Australians are increasingly choosing naturally healthy food options like fresh vegetables over ‘diet’ foods, such as low-fat yoghurt and artificially sweetened soft drinks, and that people feel healthy, fresh, responsible and organized when buying them.”

“Given that people are increasingly choosing vegetables as a healthy food option, we need to encourage people to eat more vegetables to meet the recommended daily intake levels so they can take advantage of all the wide-ranging benefits that come with eating vegetables.”

AUSVEG is the leading horticulture body representing more than 9,000 Australian vegetable and potato growers.

The recommended daily vegetable intake used in the report is derived from the Australian Dietary Guidelines, which suggests that adult males aged 19-50 should eat at least six servings of vegetables a day, and adult women in the same age bracket should be eating five servings of vegetables a day.

The Guidelines indicate that one serving of vegetables is equivalent to half a cup of cooked vegetables, half a medium potato, or one cup of salad vegetables.

“Eating a vegetable-rich diet has a plethora of documented health benefits that are essential to maintaining a healthy lifestyle,” said Mr Lindhe.

“Vegetables are not only good for your health, but are also great value for money, with consumers often pleasantly surprised by how little vegetables impact their grocery budget.”

“AUSVEG has long promoted the value of eating vegetables, and is urging all Australians to increase their vegetable consumption to take advantage of the health benefits that come with them.”

ENDS

MEDIA CONTACT: Shaun Lindhe, Senior Communications Officer – AUSVEG 

Phone: (03) 9882 0277, Mobile: 0405 977 789, Email: shaun.lindhe@ausveg.com.au