Eat 5 +A Day To Keep Cancer At Bay

Media Release
9th August 2004.

Cancer Society Says Eat 5 +A Day To Keep Cancer At Bay

The Cancer Society of New Zealand is a co-host along with United Fresh and the Ministry of Health to the 4th International 5 A Day Symposium. The World Health Organization and Produce for Better Health Foundation are presenting the Symposium which is being held in Christchurch on the 9-10 August 2004 with more than 20 nations attending.

The promotion of fruit and vegetables is a key focus of the Cancer Society of New Zealand. A recent survey undertaken by SPARC and the Cancer Society found that people were unaware that there was a link between fruit and vegetable consumption and preventing some cancers.

“Our survey found that only half the population were aware of this link,” says Ms Watt, Cancer Society spokesperson. “What we also found was that most of those not eating enough fruit and vegetables (about half the population) wrongly believe that they are eating enough to keep them healthy- if you think you already eat enough fruit and vegetable why would you try to eat more?”

Low fruit and vegetable consumption contributed to 1159 deaths in 1997 – that’s 6% of all New Zealand deaths. “If we could increase the population consumption of fruit and vegetables by 40g (about half a serving) each day, by the year 2011, the Ministry of Health estimates that we could save in excess of 330 lives a year.”

The Cancer Society hopes that by supporting this symposium, it will raise awareness of the importance of fruit and vegetables and promote the link that eating fruit and vegetables can reduce the risk of some cancers.

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