ARS | Publication request: FRUIT AND VEGETABLE CONSUMPTION IN THE DELTA: A PILOT STUDY

Submitted to: Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Conference
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: November 3, 1999
Publication Date: April 15, 2000

Technical Abstract: Twenty-four hour dietary intake pilot data were collected by telephone or in-person interview form 409 subjects residing in three rural counties in the Lower Mississippi Delta. Mean total consumption of fruits and vegetables (F&V) was determined. The mean F&V intake was 4.0+/-3.1 and 3.5+/-3.2 servings for males and females respectively. Individuals in households with annual incomes less than $5,000 consumed 3.0+/-3.0 F&V servings and those in households between $5,000-$9,999 consumed 4.0+/-3.6 F&V servings per day. Those combined households represented 49% of the study sample. A trend toward increased consumption was noted as income increased. African-Americans consumed an average 3.7+/-3.3 and whites consumed an average 3.9+/-2.6 F&V servings per day; blacks represented 76% of the sample population. Children under 6 and from 6-12 years old consumed 3.1+/-2.6 and 3.4+/-2.9 F&V servings, respectively. Children 12- 18 years old consumed 4.4+/-4.3 F&V servings but preliminary data indicated that ~30% of the servings were as French-fried potatoes and potato chips. Alarmingly the mean fruit consumption for the total sample surveyed was 1 serving/day. More than 90% of the population consumed 3 or fewer fruit servings per day and about 67% consumed one or fewer servings per day. Vegetable servings of 3 or fewer per day were found in more than 60% of the population. A larger study is currently under way to validate these results. Efforts to improve vegetable consumption and increase fruit consumption should be launched in these counties.