A pilot study of the effect of providing daily free fruit to primary-school children in Auckland, New Zealand.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the uptake of a free fruit provision to low-decile primary-school children by quantitatively assessing changes in fruit intake.


METHODS
A randomised controlled trial using a paired, cluster randomisation.


METHODS
Twenty low-decile primary schools (schools attended by the most deprived children) in Auckland, New Zealand.


METHODS
In total 2032 children, aged 7-11 years, provided data on at least one occasion.


METHODS
Ten pairs of low-decile primary schools matched by roll size and location were randomly allocated to control (no free fruit) or intervention (free fruit) for a school term. Dietary assessments using the 24 h recall methodology were made at baseline, on the last week of the intervention and 6 weeks post-intervention.


RESULTS
Fruit intakes in this cohort were lower than the national average with over 40 % reporting no fruit intake at baseline and did not differ between groups. After the free fruit period the intervention group increased school fruit intakes by 0.39 pieces/school d from baseline (P < or = 0.001) and the proportion of children consuming no fruit reduced to 22 %. This increase, however, was not sustained and fruit intakes fell below baseline levels at 6 weeks post-intervention. Control subjects did not significantly alter their fruit intakes throughout the study.


CONCLUSIONS
Improving exposure and accessibility to fruits at school increases fruit intakes of low socio-economic group children, particularly those who do not normally eat fruit. The present pilot study demonstrates some possible negative effects of short-term free fruit interventions, but is informative for developing and evaluating sustained fruit intervention programmes.
Ashfield-Watt
Pauline Al
PA
Institute of Food Nutrition and Human Health, Massey University, SH 16 Albany, Auckland, New Zealand. massey_temp@hotmail.co.uk
Stewart
Elizabeth A
EA
Scheffer
Judi A
JA
D002648:Child; D004034:Diet Surveys; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005522:Food Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005638:Fruit; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D009520:New Zealand; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011203:Poverty; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012574:Schools; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology