Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the five-a-day scheme to alter eating habits; and if he will make a statement.

The 5 A DAY scheme was launched in 2003. Since then evidence from dietary surveys suggests that consumption of fruit and vegetables increased slightly to peak in 2006/07 but there has been little or no change in consumption since the late 2000s. It is not possible to determine to what extent these changes in consumption are due to the 5 A DAY programme compared to a range of other factors influencing dietary choices, such as price, which are likely to have an influence. Therefore no assessment has been made of the effectiveness of the 5 A Day scheme to directly alter eating habits.

There is evidence from interventions in schools and in the community where incorporating 5 A DAY messaging has increased fruit and vegetable consumption.