UN forum aims to boost eating fruit, vegetables in bid to avert millions of deaths

With at least 2.7 million people dying each year around the world because they eat too little fruit and vegetables, the United Nations is holding a three-day workshop in Kobe, Japan, to find better ways to make these two essential commodities available to those who currently cannot access enough.

Organized by the UN World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and bringing together nutrition, health and agriculture experts, the meeting from 1 to 3 September is drawing up a draft framework for cost-effective steps to promote increased production, availability and access, and adequate consumption of fruit and vegetables in member countries.

The Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health, adopted in May, stressed the important role of fruits and vegetables in preventing diet-related non-communicable diseases like obesity and certain cancers, as well as vitamin and mineral deficiencies.