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Consumers 'confused about diet' Consumers 'confused about diet'
(about 3 hours later)
Many Britons are unaware how to follow a healthy, balanced diet, the official food watchdog has said.Many Britons are unaware how to follow a healthy, balanced diet, the official food watchdog has said.
A survey by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) suggests widespread ignorance about how much starchy food like rice, bread and pasta should be eaten.A survey by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) suggests widespread ignorance about how much starchy food like rice, bread and pasta should be eaten.
And there is confusion over what can contribute towards the target "five a day" intake of fruit and vegetables.And there is confusion over what can contribute towards the target "five a day" intake of fruit and vegetables.
Conflicting messages from different weight-loss diets could be responsible for the misconceptions, says the FSA.Conflicting messages from different weight-loss diets could be responsible for the misconceptions, says the FSA.
Only 11% of people correctly said it was important to eat lots of starchy foods, the survey of 2,094 people found.Only 11% of people correctly said it was important to eat lots of starchy foods, the survey of 2,094 people found.
FSA SURVEY 45% realised tinned fruit and veg count towards "five a day"54% correct in saying frozen fruit and veg can count53% realised dried fruit count73% recognised importance of eating lots of fresh fruit and vegetables19% wrongly thought eating plenty of fruit and veg could "outweigh" eating fatty, sugary foods58% realised foods high in fat and sugar should only be eaten occasionallyFSA SURVEY 45% realised tinned fruit and veg count towards "five a day"54% correct in saying frozen fruit and veg can count53% realised dried fruit count73% recognised importance of eating lots of fresh fruit and vegetables19% wrongly thought eating plenty of fruit and veg could "outweigh" eating fatty, sugary foods58% realised foods high in fat and sugar should only be eaten occasionally
The FSA has re-designed the image it uses to show what makes up a healthy diet - the newly-designed "eatwell plate" uses photos of different foods and renames some food groups.The FSA has re-designed the image it uses to show what makes up a healthy diet - the newly-designed "eatwell plate" uses photos of different foods and renames some food groups.
The organisation's head of nutrition, Rosemary Hignett, said consumers ought to know the proportions of each food group needed for a healthy balanced diet.The organisation's head of nutrition, Rosemary Hignett, said consumers ought to know the proportions of each food group needed for a healthy balanced diet.
"It's not a 10-minute fad. It's a diet for life that we know will help reduce the number of diet-related illnesses such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and some cancers which are on the rise in the UK," she said."It's not a 10-minute fad. It's a diet for life that we know will help reduce the number of diet-related illnesses such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and some cancers which are on the rise in the UK," she said.
"This is about a simple, straightforward approach that allows us to enjoy a varied diet that includes foods from all groups.""This is about a simple, straightforward approach that allows us to enjoy a varied diet that includes foods from all groups."
Potatoes do not count towards the target "five a day" portions of fruit and vegetables, says the FSA, but baked beans do.Potatoes do not count towards the target "five a day" portions of fruit and vegetables, says the FSA, but baked beans do.
A healthy, balanced diet, according to its guidelines, should be made up ofA healthy, balanced diet, according to its guidelines, should be made up of
  • around one third fruit and vegetables
  • around one third fruit and vegetables
  • one third bread, rice, potatoes, pasta and other starchy foods
  • one third bread, rice, potatoes, pasta and other starchy foods
  • 15% milk and dairy foods
  • 15% milk and dairy foods
  • 2% meat, fish, eggs, beans and other non-dairy sources of protein
    		•
  • 12% meat, fish, eggs, beans and other non-dairy sources of protein
  • and just 8% food and drink high in fat or sugar
  • and just 8% food and drink high in fat or sugar
    • The new image will be used by, among others, dieticians, nutritionists and the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence.The new image will be used by, among others, dieticians, nutritionists and the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence.