National Food Strategy calls for fruit and veg prescriptions - here are the UK areas where people are least likely to get 5 a day

Our interactive map reveals the areas of the UK where people are least likely to get the recommended five-a-day portions.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

People in England are more than twice as likely to get their ‘five-a-day’ of fruit and vegetables than those in Scotland and Wales, with barely one in six Scots eating enough portions in some parts of the country.

NationalWorld analysed survey data from Public Health England and the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish governments to find where in the UK people are most averse to their greens.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

We want to hear from you: let us know what you think about this story and be part of the debate in our comments section below

Barely one in six adults in some parts of Scotland eat enough fruit and vegetablesBarely one in six adults in some parts of Scotland eat enough fruit and vegetables
Barely one in six adults in some parts of Scotland eat enough fruit and vegetables

It comes as England’s National Food Strategy, published on Wednesday (15 July), recommended GPs prescribe fruit and vegetables to encourage healthy eating. It also called for the introduction of a salt and sugar tax for manufacturers.

The figures show Scotland had the worst record for fruit and veg consumption, with just 22% of the population saying they ate at least five portions the day before they were interviewed.

That compared to 25% in Wales, 44% in Northern Ireland, and 55% in England.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Survey methods between the four nations varied. People in Scotland were asked detailed questions on the quantities of salad, pulses, fruits and vegetables consumed – for instance, how many tablespoons of vegetables they ate.

The worst 25 areas in the UK for fruit and veg consumptionThe worst 25 areas in the UK for fruit and veg consumption
The worst 25 areas in the UK for fruit and veg consumption

In England, people were simply asked how many portions of fruit and vegetables they ate, with guidance on what did and did not count.

‘Food deserts’

The figures – which also reveal huge disparities between local areas – pre-date the pandemic, with food charity Sustain warning that Covid exacerbated existing inequalities that led to some people being unable to access a healthy diet, such as poverty and disability.

Sofia Parente, campaigns manager at Sustain, said the poorest households would have to spend 42% of their income on food, post-housing costs, to meet Public Health England’s Eatwell Guide.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The result is 3.7 million children in the UK living in households earning less than £15,860 who are unable to afford a healthy diet, she said.

A lack of access also impacts people with mobility issues, she added, with some neighbourhoods dominated by shops selling hot food takeaways leaving people reliant on cars or buses to reach supermarkets selling fruit and vegetables.

“These so-called food deserts are real in many parts of the country and again impact on those on the lowest incomes,” Ms Parente said.

Read More
‘Immoral and unjust’: Campaigners fighting food poverty urge the government to e...

Which areas eat the least fruit and veg?

England

England’s figures, which come from Sport England’s Active Lives Survey for 2019-20, are broken down by council area.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

They reveal that people in Stoke-on-Trent in the West Midlands eat the least fruit and veg, with only 41.4% getting their five-a-day.

That was followed by Blackburn with Darwen (43.8%), Knowsley (43.8%), Redcar and Cleveland (44.1%) and Rochdale (44.4%).

The North West region performed the worst, with 51.2% of people eating at least five portions.

The results for each region were:

Region Proportion who eat five-a-day
North West

51.2%

West Midlands 52.6%
Yorkshire and the Humber 53.5%
North East 53.7%
East Midlands 55%
London 55.8%
East of England 56.7%
South East 58.3%
South West 60.1%

Scotland

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Figures for Scotland are published in the government Scottish Health Survey and are broken down by health board. National figures are for 2019 and local figures are for 2016-19.

The Ayrshire and Arran Health Board and Shetland Health Board areas were ranked worst in Scotland – and the UK – with just 15% saying they eat their five-a-day.

That was followed by Lanarkshire (16%), Western Isles (19%), and Dumfries and Galloway and Grampian (both 20%).

Out of all the councils in England and health board or trust areas in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, 14 of the bottom 25 areas are in Scotland.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Best performing was the Lothian health board area – but even there just 29% of adults ate the recommended portions, far lower than even the worst performing area in England (41%).

Overall, women ate an average of 3.3 portions and men 3.2.

The results for each health board were:

Health board Proportion who eat five-a-day
Ayrshire and Arran 15%
Shetland 15%
Lanarkshire 16%
Western Isles 19%
Dumfries and Galloway 20%
Grampian 20%
Fife 21%
Forth Valley 21%
Highland 22%
Tayside 22%
Borders 23%
Greater Glasgow and Clyde 23%
Orkney 25%
Lothian 29%

Wales

Wales’s figures were slightly better than Scotland’s, reaching a low of only 26% in the Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board area in North Wales.

Best performing was the Cardiff and Vale area, at 32%, followed by Aneurin Bevan Health Board in Newport and South East Wales, at 30%.

Data for both 2018/19 and 2019/20 are combined for local areas in Wales because of small sample sizes.

The results for each health board were:

Health board Proportion who eat five-a-day
Aneurin Bevan 20%
Swansea Bay 21%
Cwm Taf Morgannwg 22%
Hywel Dda 23%
Betsi Cadwaladr 26%
Powys 27%
Cardiff and Vale 32%

Northern Ireland

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

In Northern Ireland, people living in the Northern Health and Social Care Trust were least likely to get their five-a-day, with 40% saying they ate at least that amount.

The South Eastern and the Southern trust areas were top of the pack on 47%.

The results for each trust were:

Health and social care trust Proportion who eat five-a-day
Northern 40%
Belfast 44%
Western 44%
South Eastern 47%
Southern 47%

Why do people not eat enough fruit and veg?

The NHS says every adult should eat at least five 80g portions of fresh, frozen, canned, dried or juiced fruit and veg a day, excluding potatoes.

Fruit juices and smoothies can only count as one portion no matter how much you drink.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Figures for every region show that men are less likely than women to eat enough fruit and veg, while data for England, Wales and Northern Ireland show the most deprived areas lagging far behind the least deprived.

In England, 48.8% of people in the bottom 10% of council areas by deprivation ate five portions compared to 60.1% in the top 10%.

In Wales, the gap was 19% in the poorest fifth of neighbourhoods compared to 30% in the richest fifth, and Northern Ireland it was 39% compared to 54%.

England’s figures meanwhile show 52.1% of disabled people ate five portions versus 56.4% of non-disabled people, while black people were far less likely than average to hit the daily recommendation – 45.7% versus the national average of 55.4%.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“There are many issues that influence access to fruit and vegetable consumption at the heart of these inequalities,” Ms Parente said.

“Calorie for calorie, the price of food high in fat, sugar and salt are a third of the cost of vegetables.

“Convenience is another major issue. In the UK almost 50% of our shopping basket is made of ultra-processed foods which are low in vegetables.

“Food advertising on all media is dominated by foods high in fat, sugar and salt.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Covid has further exacerbated these inequalities. It became quickly evident during the pandemic that for those on low incomes or not able to access free school meals or fruit and vegetables, consumption of vegetables dipped below already existing low levels.

“We try and fight this state of affairs but I would say we need bolder action by governments.”

Author of the National Food Strategy report Henry Dimbleby said: “The food system is a logistical miracle, full of amazing, inventive people.

“With the right leadership from government, it is well within our power to change the system so it makes both us and the planet healthier.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Currently, however, the way we produce food is doing terrible damage to the environment and to our bodies, and putting an intolerable strain on the NHS.

“Covid-19 has been a painful reality check.

“Our high obesity rate has been a major factor in the UK’s tragically high death rate.

“We must now seize the moment to build a better food system for our children and grandchildren.”

A message from the editor:

Thank you for reading. NationalWorld is a new national news brand, produced by a team of journalists, editors, video producers and designers who live and work across the UK. Find out more about who’s who in the team, and our editorial values. We want to start a community among our readers, so please follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and keep the conversation going.

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.