17th June 2004
Can we afford not to?
The 5+ A Day programme in New Zealand is delighted that the Cancer Society is challenging New Zealander's barriers to
fruit and vegetable consumption.
General Manger of 5+ A Day, Paula Dudley says that although the 5+A Day has raised awareness of the need to eat at least
three servings of vegetables and two of fruit a day to 88 %, barriers to taking action and changing long term behaviour
still need work.
"The question that this campaign raises is can you afford not to eat more fruit and vegetables if you wish to protect
your health?" asks Ms Dudley. "The Ministry of Health's Report "Looking Up Stream" attributed approximately 30% of the
8500 deaths in 1997 to the joint effect of dietary factors, including 6% to inadequate vegetable and fruit consumption,
so drawing attention to the message by adding the Cancer Society Campaign is a very positive move for New Zealand
health."
"The Cancer Society research has helped to identify just what the barriers to consumption are. Now all of those involved
in raising the awareness of the role that fruit and vegetables can have in protecting against disease can work to break
these barriers down," she stated.
This will be taken even further after the 4th International 5ADay Symposium being held in Christchurch in August when
international cancer agencies and research centres will share best practices and develop a list of most successful
strategic actions.
Alongside this 5+ A Day will host a WHO co-ordinated workshop for Pacific Islands representatives on the promotion of
fruit and vegetables consumption.
"The message of 5+ A Day is a global message which we are all working on at a local level to implement. In New Zealand
5+ A Day is looking to work in partnership with such organizations as the Cancer Society to promote not only fruit and
vegetable consumption but also variety through promotion of our Colour Way logo. Getting New Zealanders to eat not only
more, but also a wider variety of fruit and vegetables that this country produces could provide health benefits and
reduce the number of lives lost to non-communicable diseases. Can we really afford not to make sure that this happens? "
Ms Dudley concluded.
END
The 4th International 5 A Day Symposium is to be held in Christchurch from 9th - 10th August 2004. This will be followed
by the post symposium meetings of cancer agencies and research centres and Pacific Islands representatives. Further
information on the 5 A Day Symposium is available on the website www.5aday.co.nz
About United Fresh
Ten years ago a small group of far sighted people established United Fresh, a voluntarily funded, non profit, produce
industry organization.
From this initial group has come the generic 5+ A Day programme, a programme that not only has become the central
strand that binds all aspects of the fruit and vegetable value chain but also the recognised cornerstone of our nation's
Public Health mantra.
It is under this banner that government, non government, health professionals, educators and industry have come together
to promote fruit and vegetables for better health.
United Fresh would like to take this opportunity to thank all of its partners for their continued support of the 5 + A
Day message.