Fruits and vegetables in chronic disease prevention : rationale for fruits and vegetables-campaign

The aim of this report is to give a scientific rationale justifying deliberate consumption of fruits and vegetables as part of chronic disease prevention. Second, to quantify the potential public health impact of increased consumption of fruits and vegetables in the Dutch population. Cardiovascular disease and cancer are major causes of chronic disease deaths in the Netherlands (40% and 28% of deaths, respectively). Epidemiologic studies, supplemented with mechanistic considerations, form the basis of the evidence presented and the calculations performed.