DIETARY-INTAKE OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES IN NORWAY - INFLUENCE OF LIFEPHASE AND SOCIOECONOMIC-FACTORS

The aim of the study was to contribute to a better understanding of fa ctors influencing the consumption of fruits, vegetables and potatoes a mong consumers in Norway. It is built on data from two consumer survey s; one including 1103 persons and the other including 13 857 persons. The data indicate that a considerable proportion of the consumers had a very low frequency of consumption when compared to present recommend ations of intake; 31% consumed vegetables, and 24% fruits twice a week or less. Data from multivariate analyses (logistic regression) showed that age, sex, income and household structure were important determin ants for the consumption of fruits. These factors, as well as educatio n and place of living were important determinants of the consumption o f vegetables and potatoes. Consumers who were very interested in healt h issues, were more likely to have a high consumption of fruits and ve getables, whereas those who had a preference for quickly prepared food tended to have a low consumption of vegetables. These results are dis cussed in relation to the consumers own perception of important limita tions for consumption of these products.