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Nutritional values of fruit and vegetables versus price

Article · March 2014

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 Nutritional values of fruit and vegetables versus price
Suchánková M.1 - Kapounová Z. 1 – Dofková M. 1 – Blahová J. 1 - Ruprich J. –
1,2 Kouřilová I. 2
Connection:
1Center for Health, Nutrition and Food, National Institute of Public Health, Palackého 3a, 612 42 Brno, CZ (suchankova@chpr.szu.cz)
2Dep. of Milk Hygiene and Technology, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, UVPS Brno, Palackého 1-3, 612 42 Brno, CZ

INTRODUCTION METHODS
Fruit and vegetables play an important role in dietary intake Selection of fruit and vegetables Nutrient adequacy score, nutrient density score
of certain vitamins (vitamin C, folate), minerals (potassium, • 56 fruits (n = 28) and vegetables (n = 28) Based on content of 10 nutrients inclusive:
magnesium), dietary fibre and other substances with • Fruit as raw; vegetables as raw or as cooked
• vitamins (vitamin A, C, E, folate, thiamin and riboflavin)
beneficial effects on health. Their energy density is also
Nutrient composition data • minerals (Ca, Fe, K, Mg)
relatively low. Fruit and vegetables represent essential
• Nutrient composition databases from various countries
components of a balanced diet. Nutrient adequacy score (NAS): the mean of percent
• Preferred were data of Czech and Slovak origin
Consumption of fruit and vegetables is generally lower than reference values for 10 key nutrients (capped at 100 %),
Food price data provided by 100 g (edible part – e.p.) of food item
recommended. Price is recognized as one of the major
• Retail prices obtained in 4 super- or hypermarkets in Brno
obstacles to increasing of consumption. Higher consumption
during 4 seasons (February, May, July, September) in 2013 • (A) Dividing NAS by the energy density (kJ/100 g) yielded
of fruit and vegetables and their products is related to higher
• The lowest price for food item (regardless of the variety) nutrient density score (NDS)
diet costs. It is caused by relatively high price for energy unit.
On the other hand this food group can be low-cost source Reference values for nutrient intake • (B) Dividing NAS by food prices (in CZK/100 g e.p.) yielded
of several key vitamins and minerals. • We have used „DACH-reference values“ for population nutrient-to-price ratio (NAS/P)
groups: children aged 4-6 years and elderly over 65 years.
We have used nutrient profiling methods combined with NAS was calculated for selected population groups
food price data in order to identify fruit and vegetables which Statistical analyses (children and elderly people)
provide substantial amount of nutrients in relation • Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis, post hoc tests (α = 0,05)
to price and to energy content. using Statistica (version 12) software

RESULTS
Table 1 Fruit and vegetables with highest nutrient-to-price ratio
The best nutritional value based on calculation of NAS (per 100 g e.p.) is provided Foods which are characterized by high (NAS/P) (* cooked; f. – frozen)
by following types of fruit and vegetables: spinach, savoy cabbage, broccoli, kiwifruit, currants nutritional value are not necessary the
etc., as shown in Figure 1. No significant difference (α = 0,05) in NAS was found between best cost-effective option. February May July September
1 carrot∗ carrot∗ savoy cabbage∗ savoy cabbage∗
groups of fruit and vegetables. Table 1 shows fruit and vegetables 2 head cabbage∗ head cabbage∗ carrot ∗ peas (f.)∗
The logical outcome of using NDS (per 100 kJ), which takes into account both nutrient content which have higher nutrient-to-price 3 chinese cabbage potatoes∗ head cabbage∗ kohlrabi
and energy density of food, is changing the order (especially for vegetables). Besides the ratio than the others. 4 savoy cabbage∗ savoy cabbage∗ potatoes∗ carrot∗
peas (f.) ∗ red beet∗
above-mentioned types, high NDS showed also radishes, lettuce, chinese cabbage, cauliflower 5 kohlrabi pepper
parsley∗ cauliflower∗ head cabbage∗
and cucumber (see Figure 2). In order to ensure a high supply 6 pepper
7 kiwifruit oranges pepper tomatoes
of nutrients and a low energy intake, as preferable was confirmed consumption
8 kohlrabi onion∗ tomatoes courgette∗
of vegetables instead of fruit (NDS for groups of fruit and vegetables differed significantly: 9 onion∗ celeriac∗ peas (f.)∗ watermelon
α = 0,05). Relation between energy density and NDS is shown in Figure 3. 10 potatoes∗ parsley∗ courgette∗ potatoes∗

As shown in Figure 4, in the area with high NAS and relatively low price (the left upper
30 40
quadrant - divided by the median values) are located following items: savoy cabbage, pepper,
cabbage*
savoy

Vegetables Fruit Vegetables Fruit

spinach*

35
carrot, kohlrabi, parsley, cauliflower, green peas (frozen), oranges, chinese cabbage, tomatoes,
Nutrient density score - NDS (per 100 kJ)
Nutrient adequacy score - NAS (per 100 g)

25
kiwifruit

courgette, bananas, grapefruit and tangerines. High price and relatively low NAS (the right
spinach*

pepper

30
green peas*
carrot*

chinese cabbage
kohlrabi

lower quadrant) was observed for blueberries, olives, figs, cherries etc.
radishes
cauliflower*
broccoli*

20 25
pepper
mango

head cabbage*
lemon

tangerines

cucumber
lettuce
bananas

carrot*

white radish

head cabbage*
apricots
tomatoes
currants

currants
courgette*

pumpkin*

20
Within this food group were the lowest-cost sources of vitamin C following items: pepper,
red beet*

strawberries
blackberries

pineapple
leek*

15
savoy cabbage*
greengages

raspberries
celeriac*

pattypan*
sour cherry
blueberries
dates

kiwifruit

Brassica vegetables (cabbage, savoy cabbage, broccoli), in winter months also kiwifruit
parsley*

red beet*
nectarines

apricots

celeriac*

15
grapefruit

watermelon
strawberries

grapes

apricots

pineapple

sour cherry
blueberries
oranges

lettuce

potatoes*

sweetcorn*
bananas
onion*
pears

broccoli*

and oranges.
onion*

10
garlic
raspberries

grapes
pears
cauliflower*
white radish

chinese cabbage

dates

10
kohlrabi
green beans (pods)*
grapefruit

leek*
tomatoes
courgette*
gooseberries

pattypan*
pumpkin*
radishes

blackberries

5
olives

green beans (pods)*

5 Figure 4:
sweetcorn*

lemon

22
parsley*
peaches

aubergine*
oranges
plums

gooseberries
potatoes*

1-potatoes* 2-broccoli*
cucumber

aubergine*

mango
green peas*
cherry

watermelon
figs

apples

peaches
greengages
nectarines

0 Vegetables (V) Fruit (F) 3-celeriac* 4-onion*

cherry

25
plums
apples

olives
garlic

20
figs

0 5-courgette* 6-garlic
Nutrient adequacy score - NAS (per 100 g)

8
18 7-green beans (pods)* 8-savoy cabbage*
9-kohlrabi 10-sweetcorn*
2
11-cauliflower* 12-aubergine*
Figure 1 Nutrient adequacy score (NAS – per 100 g e.p.) Figure 2 Nutrient density score (NDS – per 100 kJ) 16
16 2
V: R = 0,1439
13-green peas* 14-carrot*
among selected fruit and vegetables (* cooked) among selected fruit and vegetables (* cooked) 14
15-cucumber,
17-pattypan*
16-pepper
18-parsley*
42
14 19-leek 20-tomatoes
12 21-radishes 22-white radish
9 19
23-red beet* 24-lettuce
Nutrient density score - NDS (per 100 kJ)

30 18 50
13 41
Vegetables Fruit 10 11 45 25-spinach* 26-pumpkin*
51 34 6 F: R2 = 0,0362 27-head cabbage* 28-chinese cabbage
24
8 28
5 37
22 43 29-pineapple 30-gooseberries
47 7
20 27 21 31-bananas 32-blueberries
20 31 44 33-peaches 34-lemon
6 17 29 26
23 55
10 35
49 35-dates 36-figs
V: R2 = 0,2877 1 33 38 32 37-grapefruit 38-grapes
4 3
15 48
54 36
39-pears 40-apples
10
4
40 46 39 12 41-strawberries 42-kiwifruit
F: R2 = 0,3405 2 43-raspberries 44-tangerines
45-mango 46-watermelon
0 47-apricots 48-nectarines
0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 49-olives 50-blackberries
40 140 240 340 440 540 640 51-oranges 52-currants
Energy density (kJ/100 g) Price (in CZK per 100 g e.p.) 53-greengages 54-cherries
55-plums 56-sour cherries
* cooked
Figure 3 Relation between energy density and nutrient density score Figure 4 Relation between price per 100 g e.p. and nutrient adequacy score Note:
Missing numbers in the graph indicate
among selected fruit and vegetables among selected fruit and vegetables the unavailability of items on the market.

CONCLUSION
Carrot, savoy cabbage, head cabbage, pepper, kohlrabi, peas and potatoes provide better nutritional value with respect to the price (focused on population groups children aged 4-6 years and
adults over 65 years). Statistical comparison of nutrient density score between fruit and vegetables confirmed that vegetables provide higher amount of nutrients per energy unit
(P < 0,001). This is important for prevention of both obesity and deficiency of micronutrients. Among the most frequently consumed fruit and vegetables, the lowest-cost vitamin C was
provided by pepper and Brassica vegetables (head cabbage, savoy cabbage and broccoli), eventually also by oranges and kiwifruit.
Although the presented results indicate fruit and vegetables which are both nutrient dense and more affordable than others, high priority is placed on maintaining diversity in consumed types
of fruit and vegetables. Various types can provide many chemical substances of diverse origin with beneficial health effects, although it has not been described exactly yet. Also worth noting is
the fact that not all fruit and vegetables are acceptable for all individuals. More frequent limitations can be expected in elderly people, related to digestive constraints.

Read more in the Czech language:

REFERENCES
DARMON, N., DARMON, M., MAILLOT, M., DREWNOWSKI, A. A nutrient density standard for vegetables and fruits: Nutrients per calorie and nutrients per unit cost. Journal of the American Dietetic Association. 2005, 105: 1881-1887.
DREWNOWSKI, A., REHM C.D. Vegetable Cost Metrics Show That Potatoes and Beans Provide Most Nutrients Per Penny. PloS ONE. 2013, 8(5): e63277.

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