Australia
December 5, 2013

Australia has been ranked number one by the OECD when it comes to daily consumption of vegetables by adults, however, over 90 per cent of adults still aren’t eating the recommended daily intake.

The Health at a Glance 2013 study of 28 countries found that 99 per cent of surveyed Australian men and women ate vegetables on a daily basis, significantly higher than the average across surveyed nations of 64 per cent for men and 73 per cent for women.

“While it is excellent that we are leading the world in daily vegetable consumption, with ABS data showing only 5.5 per cent of Australians adults are meeting the recommended daily intake of five servings of vegetables, it is important that we make a conscious effort to increase our consumption to promote better health,” said AUSVEG spokesperson Cameron Brown.

AUSVEG is the leading horticultural body representing Australia’s 9,000 vegetable and potato growers.

Korea, New Zealand, Ireland and Switzerland rounded off the top five countries with high rates of vegetable consumption, however, unlike Australia, a number of surveyed countries in the OECD report did not include potatoes as a vegetable.

“Research continues to show that a diet rich in vegetables can assist with the prevention of a wide range of health problems. A high intake of vegetables, for example, may help to reduce the risk of developing coronary heart disease, maintain cognitive brain function and even assist in the fight against cancer,” said Mr Brown.

Germany took out last place in the OECD study, with only 30 per cent of the nation’s men consuming vegetables daily, not including potatoes.

“It is also interesting to note that in almost all of the nations that participated in the study, vegetable consumption was higher in women than men, so Australian males in particular should ensure they are consuming adequate levels of vegetables,” said Mr Brown.

The Australian vegetable industry is one of horticulture’s most valuable, contributing over $3.5 billion to the Australian economy annually.
 

Website: http://www.ausveg.com.au

Published: December 5, 2013