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The economic benefits of fruit and vegetable consumption in Canada

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Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to determine the proportion of the population that meets or exceeds Canada’s Food Guide (CFG) recommendations regarding the number of daily servings of fruits and vegetables (F/V), to assess trends in this proportion between 2000 and 2013, to estimate the annual economic burden attributable to inadequate F/V consumption within the context of other important risk factors, and to estimate the short- and long-term costs that could be avoided if modest improvements were made to F/V consumption in Canada.

METHODS: We used a previously developed methodology based on population-attributable fractions and a prevalence-based cost-of-illness approach to estimate the economic burden associated with low F/V consumption.

RESULTS: Over three quarters of Canadians are not meeting CFG recommendations regarding the number of daily servings of F/V, leading to an annual economic burden of $4.39 billion. If a 1% relative increase in F/V consumption occurred annually between 2013 and 2036, the cumulative reduction in economic burden over the 23-year period would reach $8.4 billion. Consumption levels of F/V, and the resulting economic burden, varied by sex, age and province.

CONCLUSION: A significant majority of Canadians are not consuming the recommended daily servings of F/V, with important consequences to their health and the Canadian economy. Programs and policies are required to encourage F/V consumption in Canada.

Résumé

OBJECTIFS: Déterminer la proportion de la population qui respecte ou dépasse les recommandations du Guide alimentaire canadien (GAC) quant au nombre de portions quotidiennes de fruits et de légumes (F et L) pour évaluer les tendances dans cette proportion entre 2000 et 2013, afin d’estimer le fardeau économique annuel imputable à la consommation insuffisante de F et L dans le contexte d’autres importants facteurs de risque et d’estimer les coûts évitables à court et à long terme si l’on apportait de légères améliorations à la consommation de F et L au Canada.

MÉTHODE: Nous avons utilisé une méthode déjà élaborée, fondée sur les fractions attribuables dans la population, et une démarche de calcul du coût de la maladie fondée sur la prévalence pour estimer le fardeau économique associé à la faible consommation de F et L.

RÉSULTATS: Plus des trois quarts des Canadiens ne respectent pas les recommandations du GAC quant au nombre de portions quotidiennes de F et L, ce qui mène à un fardeau économique annuel de 4,39 milliards de dollars. S’il y avait chaque année une augmentation relative de 1 % de la consommation de F et L entre 2013 et 2036, la baisse cumulée du fardeau économique sur cette période de 23 ans atteindrait 8,4 milliards de dollars. Les niveaux de consommation de F et L, et le fardeau économique qui en résulte, ont varié selon le sexe, l’âge et la province.

CONCLUSION: Une grande majorité de Canadiens ne consomment pas les portions quotidiennes recommandées de F et L, ce qui a d’importantes conséquences pour leur santé et pour l’économie canadienne. Des programmes et des politiques sont nécessaires pour encourager la consommation de F et L au Canada.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Hans Krueger PhD

  2. H. Krueger & Associates Inc., 4554 48B Street, Delta, BC, V4K 2R8, Canada

    Hans Krueger PhD, Jacqueline Koot MPH & Ellie Andres MPH

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  1. Hans Krueger PhD
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Correspondence to Hans Krueger PhD.

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Conflict of Interest: The inclusion of fruit and vegetable consumption as an additional risk factor in our model was funded by the Canadian Produce Marketing Association.

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Krueger, H., Koot, J. & Andres, E. The economic benefits of fruit and vegetable consumption in Canada. Can J Public Health 108, e152–e161 (2017). https://doi.org/10.17269/CJPH.108.5721

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