Fruit and Vegetable Consumption Among Adults: United States, August 2021-August 2023.

INTRODUCTION

This report provides updated estimates of the percentage of adults age 20 and older who consumed fruits and vegetables, including types of fruits and vegetables, on a given day during August 2021-August 2023.

METHODS

Data from the Day 1 24-hour dietary recall in the August 2021-August 2023 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were used for this analysis. A custom Food Patterns Equivalents Database (FPED) file, developed by applying the established USDA procedures used to create earlier FPED files and by using the 2017-2018 food pattern equivalents assignments for ingredients, was used to define types of fruits and vegetables. Pairwise differences were evaluated using t-tests, linear trends by family income were assessed using orthogonal polynomial contrasts, and all analyses accounted for complex survey design using dietary day 1 sample weights.

KEY FINDINGS: During August 2021-August 2023, 69.9% of U.S. adults consumed any fruit on a given day, with a higher percentage of women than men consuming fruit, particularly citrus, melons, or berries, and other whole fruits. Over 9 in 10 adults (93.3%) consumed any vegetables, with no overall difference by sex, although a higher percentage of women consumed dark green and other vegetables than men. The percentage of adults consuming any fruit; citrus, melons or berries; other types of whole fruit; any vegetables; dark green vegetables; red or orange vegetables; and other vegetable types increased with family income.