Cyprus’ fruit consumption above EU average

By Annette Chrysostomou

The daily intake of fruit in Cyprus is slightly higher than the EU average, according to a Eurostat table published on Monday which revealed that 69 per cent of Cyprus residents ate fruit daily in 2017, while the EU average was 64 per cent.

In Cyprus, 30.3 per cent reported they eat fruit, veg or salad at least twice a day, 38.3 per cent at least once a day, 15.4 per cent 4 to 6 times a week, 11 per cent 1 to 3 times a week and 4.1 per cent less than once a week, while 0.8 per cent said they never eat them.

Among the member states, the daily intake of fruit was most prevalent in Italy, with 85 per cent of the population consuming them daily in 2017. In second place was Portugal at 82 per cent, and Spain was third with 77 per cent.

On the other end of the scale were Lithuania and Bulgaria, both 37 per cent, followed by Latvia with 35 per cent.

Around one in four people (27 per cent) ate fruit at least twice a day, according to a survey of the EU population.  A further 37 per cent of the EU population ate fruit once a day and the remaining 36 per cent ate fruit either less frequently or not at all during a typical week.

Compared with fruit consumption, a slightly smaller proportion (23 per cent) of the EU population ate vegetables at least twice a day, and a slightly higher proportion (40 per cent) ate vegetables once a day.

When it came to vegetable consumption, Cyprus was at the same level as the average EU member, 64 per cent, slightly below Spain at(65 per cent.

Ireland and Belgium had the highest proportion of the population who ate them at least once a day (both 84 per cent). While in most EU countries between 50 per cent and 80 per cent of the population reported that they ate vegetables daily, there were five countries where the proportion was below 50 per cent, Hungary (30 per cent), Romania (41 per cent), Latvia (44 per cent), Lithuania and Bulgaria (both 45 per cent).

The World Health Organisation recommends that individuals consume “a minimum of 400g of fruit and vegetables per day (excluding potatoes and other starchy tubers) for the prevention of chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes and obesity.”

 

 

 

 

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