More Studies Find Americans Aren't Eating Enough Fruits and Veggies

"In 1971-74, blacks had lower intakes of vegetables, potassium, and calcium, and these differences have persisted in the latest survey in 1999-2002," Kant said. "The race differentials were not explained by race differentials in income and education," she added.

"There is a need to identify reasons for the persistence of race differences and explore culturally appropriate means to increase the intake of at-risk nutrients and food groups among blacks," Kant said.

One expert thinks more public education is needed to help people understand the link between diet and disease.

"We have ongoing research that shows that people are not eating adequate amounts of fruits and vegetables in their daily diet," said Linda Nebeling, acting associate director of the Behavioral Research Program in the Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences at the U.S. National Cancer Institute.

The issue is not awareness of the guidelines, Nebeling said. "It is issues of accessibility and the environment and other barriers to eating well," she said.

Nebeling, the author of an accompanying editorial in the journal, said the National Institutes of Health is working with the CDC and with private groups to create a new program to reach people with the message about the importance of diet.

"We are looking at doing more about diet, physical activity and well-being," she said. "We have to help people in the search for health and well-being to overcome the barriers to eating a healthful diet."

In line with that, the CDC and the Produce for Better Health Foundation introduced on Monday a new public health initiative called "Fruits and Veggies -- More Matters," designed to encourage healthy eating.

Meanwhile, a related study in a separate journal found that canned and frozen, as well as fresh, fruits and vegetables all can contribute to a healthful diet.

Canning fruits and vegetables locks in nutrients, according to the study by researchers at the University of California, Davis, and reported in theJournal of the Science of Food and Agriculture. For some nutrients, canned products are higher than fresh ones and have a longer shelf-life.

Frozen fruits and vegetables may be more nutritious in some cases if stored for short periods of time under controlled temperatures. Moreover, fresh fruits and vegetables are best if eaten within three days after purchasing, according to the report, which was funded by the Canned Food Alliance.

More information

For more information on a healthful diet, visit the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

SOURCES: Sarah Stark Casagrande, graduate student, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore; Ashima K. Kant, Ph.D., professor, Department of Family, Nutrition and Exercise Sciences, Queens College, New York City; Linda Nebeling, Ph.D., M.P.H., R.D., acting associate director, Behavioral Research Program, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, U.S. National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Md.; March 2007,American Journal of Preventive Medicine;Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture; March 19, 2007, CDC press release