Defra’s Family Food Survey captures purchases of food by UK households from both retail and the Out of Home sector and includes vegetables in composite foods as well as those bought whole. Although vegetable purchases have been fairly stagnant for the past thirty years, purchases of vegetables dropped to their lowest level in fifty years in 2021-2022 (from 182g per person per day in 2020-21 to 154g in 2021-22), suggesting that the cost of living crisis is having a profound impact on household purchasing habits and dietary health. Source: Adjusted National Food Survey data 1974–2000, Expenditure and Food Survey 2001-2002 to 2007 and Living Costs and Food Survey 2008 onwards, Family Food Survey 2022. The Peas Please project launched in 2017 with a clear mission to make it easier for everyone in the UK to eat more veg. Pledges have included everything from boosting the amount of veg contained in ready meals to serving more veg options on children’s menus.

Source: The Times December 05, 2023 20:54 UTC