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Free fruit in schools scheme fails to change eating habits

The free fruit and vegetable scheme in maintained primary schools and nurseries has failed to make a sustained impact on children's fruit and vegetable consumption, a long-term evaluation has concluded.

Researchers from the University of Leeds and the National Foundation forEducational Research noted a significant increase in average fruit andvegetable consumption over the past two years, with 44 per cent ofchildren eating five portions a day in 2006, compared with 27 per centin 2004.

But they said the schools scheme, introduced in 2004, was unlikely to bean important factor in the increase because it provides mainly fruit,while the increase is mainly in vegetables.

As with an earlier study (News, 19 July), the researchers found thatfruit and vegetable consumption dropped between Year 2 and Year 3, whenpupils are no longer eligible for the scheme.

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