Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to increase vegetable consumption.

The Chief Medical Officer recommends eating plenty of fruit and vegetables as part of a healthy balanced diet. The national food model the Eatwell Guide, provides a visual representation of the types and proportions of the foods needed for a healthy, balanced diet, and depicts a diet rich in fruit and vegetables.

The Government’s 5 A DAY campaign which specifically promotes fruit and vegetable consumption and the 5 A DAY message is embedded in the Eatwell Guide. It is communicated alongside other healthy eating advice through, for example the Change4Life campaign, the One You campaign and the NHS Choices website.

In addition the Department runs two schemes which contribute towards increasing vegetable consumption:

- Healthy Start which offers support to (largely unemployed) pregnant women and children under four in families receiving one or more of the qualifying benefits and tax credits. The Healthy Start vouchers can be used for purchasing fruit and vegetables as well as milk; and

- The School Fruit and Vegetable scheme ensures all children in Key Stage 1, regardless of socio-economic background, receive a piece of fruit or vegetable every day.