Top 5 Takeaways

1. Low Compliance: In 2019, only 12.3% of adults met fruit intake recommendations, and 10.0% met vegetable intake recommendations.
2. Demographic Disparities: Hispanic adults had the highest compliance for fruit intake (16.4%), while males had the lowest (10.1%). Adults aged ≥51 years had the highest compliance for vegetable intake (12.5%), and those with low income had the lowest (6.8%).
3. State Variations: Compliance varied significantly by state, with fruit intake ranging from 8.4% in West Virginia to 16.1% in Connecticut, and vegetable intake from 5.6% in Kentucky to 16.0% in Vermont.
4. Barriers to Intake: Barriers such as cost, availability, and access to fruits and vegetables were noted, potentially exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
5. Public Health Implications: The data can help tailor public health interventions to increase fruit and vegetable consumption, particularly among high-risk populations like men, young adults, and low-income groups.

Original Article Author and Citation

Corresponding Author

Seung Hee Lee, seungheelee@cdc.gov

Suggested Citation

Lee SH, Moore LV, Park S, Harris DM, Blanck HM. Adults Meeting Fruit and Vegetable Intake Recommendations — United States, 2019. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2022;71:1–9. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7101a1

Summary

In 2019, only 12.3% of U.S. adults met the recommended fruit intake, and 10.0% met the recommended vegetable intake. The highest compliance for fruit intake was among Hispanic adults (16.4%), and for vegetable intake among adults aged ≥51 years (12.5%). The lowest compliance was observed among males for fruit intake (10.1%) and among low-income adults for vegetable intake (6.8%). State-level compliance varied significantly, with the highest rates in Connecticut and Vermont for fruit and vegetable intake, respectively. Barriers to meeting these recommendations include cost, availability, and access, which may have been worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

The data were collected using the 2019 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), an annual, state-based, random-digit–dialed telephone survey. The survey included questions on the frequency of fruit and vegetable consumption. The analysis excluded data from New Jersey, U.S. territories, and respondents with incomplete or implausible data. The final sample included 294,566 participants. Logistic regression models were used to estimate the probabilities of meeting intake recommendations, adjusting for sociodemographic variables.

Discussion

The study found that fruit and vegetable intake among U.S. adults remains low, with significant disparities by state, age, sex, race/ethnicity, and income. Women were more likely than men to meet both fruit and vegetable intake recommendations. Hispanic adults were more likely to meet fruit intake recommendations, while non-Hispanic Black adults were less likely to meet vegetable intake recommendations. Barriers such as cost and access were noted, and these may have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Tailored interventions are needed to address these disparities and increase fruit and vegetable consumption.

Conclusion

Efforts to increase fruit and vegetable consumption should focus on improving access and affordability, particularly in underserved communities. Public health programs and policies should be tailored to address the specific needs of high-risk populations, such as men, young adults, and low-income groups. These efforts can help mitigate health disparities and improve overall public health.

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