---

---

---

---

Science Current Events and Science News RSS Feeds

---

---

Email a Friend Printer Friendly

Nine Out Of Ten Should Increase Their Consumption Of Fruit And Vegetables In The Eight Nordic And Baltic Countries

November 19, 2003

The NORBAGREEN 2002 Study examined the consumption frequency of vegetables, fruit and berries, bread and fish in eight Nordic and Baltic countries. These foods are recommended to be monitored internationally as dietary indicators for health.

The consumption frequency of these foods was about two times more in the high consuming countries compared to the low consuming countries. According to the study about 90% of the people should increase their fruit and vegetable consumption, more than 40 % their fish consumption and more than 50% their bread consumption in these countries to reach the recommended consumption frequencies.

The study was coordinated by the Finnish National Public Health Institute, KTL, Finland and was sponsored mainly by the Nordic Council of Ministers.

The lack of comparable food consumption data is an internationally known problem. The NORBAGREEN 2002 Study compared food consumption frequencies of alltogether 8397 individuals, 15-74 years of age (about 1000 completed interviews/country). The study was carried out in eight Nordic and Baltic countries with a similar method developed for this purpose for the first time in the Northern Europe. The food frequency questionnaire was validated in Finland, Lithuania, and had been validated earlier partly in Sweden. The data collection was coordinated by the Taloustutkimus Oy (TOY Research Finland).

Kansanterveyslaitos - National Public Health Institute (KTL)