World Fruits and Vegetables Day 2020
FRUITS AND VEGETABLES FOR GROWING, NOURISHING AND PRESERVING EVERYONE’S HEALTH is the theme chosen for this year. This will be the eighth edition held, where in some countries, actions were organized simultaneously to celebrate this day, such as campaigns promoting the consumption of fruits and vegetables through social networks, surveys, games for children, videos, press releases., among others.
On October 16, 2020, World Fruits and Vegetables Day was celebrated, within the framework of World Food Day. The celebration of Fruits and Vegetables has been celebrated since 2015. The celebration of this day arose from the Global Alliance for the Promotion of Fruits and Vegetablesthe Consumption “5 a day” (AIAM5) in which more than 30 countries worldwide are invited to launch initiatives to sensitize the world population about the importance of daily consumption of fruits and vegetables for the promotion of health and the prevention and control of obesity and non- communicable diseases (NCD´s).
Non-communicable diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer and diabetes, are responsible for 60% of deaths worldwide, while overweight and obesity cause at least 2.8 million deaths a year according to data from the Organization World Health Organization (WHO, 2017).
Insufficient intake of fruits and vegetables is a common and fundamental risk factor for several NCDs. According to the WHO, the low intake of fruits and vegetables causes 1.7 million deaths a year, mostly from cardiovascular diseases, cancer, respiratory diseases and diabetes. Regular consumption of fruits and vegetables has been associated with a lower risk of disease and mortality. These diseases could be considerably reduced thanks to the adoption of healthy lifestyle habits, among which are the daily consumption of at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables that provide the body with key nutrients that contribute to the normal functioning of the immune system. ( Rev Esp Nutr Hum Diet. 2016; 20(4): 281 – 297).
Summary of activities