From Seth Patrick
I was disappointed to see the recent study on fruit and vegetable intake given such an easy ride in Clare Wilson’s article (5 April, p 12). The study’s results were a mixed bag. When just including overweight people (about 60 per cent of the participants) the extra benefit of seven or more portions a day vanished. More strikingly, when restricted to those who had never smoked (about half the participants) the group eating seven or more portions actually did worse than those eating fewer.
Calling for 10-a-day, as the press release did, is a blatant attempt to generate a media flurry. It was a shame nobody called them on it. It could discourage those already struggling to hit their five-a-day target, while giving the false impression that lower levels of intake had little benefit.
The study authors could have chosen a more positive message: eating between three and five portions of fruit or vegetables a day consistently showed significant benefits, with five to seven portions showing a modest additional benefit. That wouldn’t have had the same media appeal, but would have avoided the unwelcome boost to public disaffection with the science behind health messages.
Handcross, West Sussex, UK
