Fruit failures: 80% of us are not eating our five a day

FEWER than one in five Britons eat the recommended five portions of fruit and vegetables a day, research reveals.

Only 18 per cent of people polled by charity Diabetes UK had eaten five portions the day before they were questioned.

Some 82 per cent had failed to meet the guidance, recommended by the NHS as the minimum target for a healthy diet.

Of those, 11 per cent had eaten no fruit or veg the day before, while 66 per cent had only eaten three portions or fewer.

Diabetes UK, which polled 2,000 British adults, also found 46 per cent of people do not eat any fruit for at least three days a week. Researchers have shown those who meet the recommendations are less likely to suffer cancer, heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

A portion is 80g – or just under three ounces. Emma Elvin, clinical advisor for the charity, said: ‘These survey results are a huge cause for concern when you recognise the fact that in the UK, 3.6million people have been diagnosed with diabetes and 11.9million people are at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.’