The slogan "Five fruits and vegetables a day" is well known to the French. However, many people do not follow these guidelines daily. According to a survey by Santé publique France, the national public health agency, published on Tuesday, April 29, only 24% of adult women and 18% of men meet the recommended daily intake of fruits and vegetables. This insufficient consumption can have serious health consequences: poor nutrition is recognized as one of the main risk factors for preventable chronic diseases, contributing significantly to conditions like type 2 diabetes, obesity, cancers and cardiovascular diseases. It accounts for nearly one in five preventable deaths worldwide.

The survey, conducted over the phone in 2021 with more than 24,000 adults aged 18 to 85, includes, for the first time, a detailed questionnaire about dietary habits. However, the methodology used does not enable precise evaluation of the quantities consumed nor tracking these consumption patterns over time.

Despite these limitations, and although it does not claim to meet international standards for nutritional surveys, it provides valuable insights into the insufficient adherence to public health messaging regarding diet. It also helps to better understand inequalities in the country. The last large-scale nutritional survey in France was conducted in 2016, and the next wave is scheduled to begin in the summer of 2025, with results expected at best in 2027.

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