Survey Shows Poland Tops in Eating Fruit and Vegetables in Europe

Known as Europe's most avid consumers of pork chops and sausage, Poles now eat the most fruit and vegetables according to a new study of 19 mostly northern European states.
Poles topped the charts in the European Food Information Council survey with an average 577 grams (1.26 pounds) daily intake of fruit and veg, with Italians munching their way into second spot with an average daily intake of 452 grams.
"Only in Poland, Germany, Italy and Austria the recommendation of consuming 400 grams of fruit and vegetables per day was met," the study published on the EFIC website revealed.
France ranked a distant ninth in the survey with an average daily intake of 342 grams, trailing the above mentioned top four as well as Hungary, Estonia, Ireland and Belgium.
Icelanders got the lowest marks, eating just 186 grams of fruit and vegetables a day, behind Swedes (237 grams) and Czechs (253 grams).
The EFIC survey noted that geography played a surprising role in the way vegetables were eaten, with more vitamin-rich raw vegetables being consumed in the north.
"In the north, consumption of raw vegetables was higher, while vegetable soups were the main sources of vegetables in the south," the study noted.
It also wagged its finger, insisting "a majority of Europeans do not meet the WHO recommendations (400 grams minimum) for fruit and vegetable intake" increasing their risk of illnesses like cancer and cardio-vascular disease.
Source-AFP