Consumer perceptions of fruit and vegetables serving sizes.
OBJECTIVE
To assess consumer understanding of fruit and vegetable serving sizes.


METHODS
The Western Australian Health Department launched the Go for 2&5(R) campaign to promote fruit and vegetables in March 2002. The Health & Wellbeing Surveillance System surveyed 1108 adults, aged 16 years and over, between September and November 2002 about what constituted a serving of fruit and of vegetables, their usual daily fruit and vegetables intake, and their recall of the campaign.


METHODS
The study was undertaken as a part of a public health intervention - social marketing campaign in Western Australia, which had a population of 1 927 000 in 2002.


RESULTS
Forty-two per cent of respondents knew that the fruit serving size was one piece and only 14.5 % reported the (1/2) cup vegetable serving size. The mean fruit intake was 1.8 (95 % CI 1.7, 1.8) servings/d and the mean vegetable intake was 2.8 (95 % CI 2.7, 3.0) servings/d. Vegetable intake was associated with being female (P = 0.006), increasing age (P < 0.0001), awareness of the campaign (P = 0.031) and knowledge of standard serving size (P = 0.006). Fruit consumption was associated with being female (P = 0.007). Fruit and vegetable intakes were not associated with educational attainment or household income.


CONCLUSIONS
The Go for 2&5(R) campaign uses a prescriptive message to promote increased consumption of fruit and vegetables. Respondent's knowledge of the standard of serving sizes for fruit and vegetables suggests there is value in separating fruit and vegetable recommendations in messages to encourage increased consumption.
Pollard
Christina M
CM
Curtin University of Technology, Bentley 6102, Western Australia, Australia. C.Pollard@Curtin.edu.au
Daly
Alison M
AM
Binns
Colin W
CW
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D010465:Perception; D040241:Social Marketing; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014675:Vegetables; D014904:Western Australia; D055815:Young Adult