Review of Nutrition Policy Options for Increasing Fruit and Vegetable Consumption in the Populations: Lesson Learned and Policy Implications

Samira Pourmoradian; Naser Kalantari; Alireza Ostadrahimi; Hassan Eini-Zinab; Ali Milani Bonab

doi:10.18502/jnfs.v7i2.9340

Samira Pourmoradian Nutrition Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
Naser Kalantari Department of Community Nutrition, National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute, Faculty of Nutrition Sciences and Food Technology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Alireza Ostadrahimi Nutrition Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Hassan Eini-Zinab Department of Community Nutrition, National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute, Faculty of Nutrition Sciences and Food Technology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Ali Milani Bonab Department of Food and Nutrition Policy and Planning, National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute, School of Nutrition Sciences and Food Technology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jnfs.v7i2.9340

Keywords: Non-communicable diseases; Fruit; Vegetable; Nutrition policy

Abstract

Background: The development of policies for increasing fruit and vegetable consumption is highlighted as a priority in developing countries. This review study aimed to present the available policy options for increasing fruit and vegetable consumption in the populations. Methods: To collect relevant English publications, five electronic databases, including PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Embase, ProQuest, and Ovid from 2000 until 1^st January 2021 were searched. The national or population based programs aimed to increase fruit and/or vegetable intake were included. Four types of policy options were recognized, including food promotion, school and workplace food environment regulations, agriculture, food production, supply and storage, and fiscal policies. Results: Increasing consumer’s knowledge has been more effective in increasing fruit and vegetable consumption among populations. However, most of the interventions in the workplace and school emphasize increasing knowledge and changing access to healthy food. Conclusion: In general, the evaluation of these policies has been done in the short term and has had a moderate impact on changing dietary behavior. Agricultural and food supply chain policies are currently less researched. Finally, recent evidence suggests that multi-component interventions are more effective than one-component interventions.