We often hear people say that things “aren’t what they used to be”, but what about fruit and veg? Is it really as nutritious as it once was? A recent 2022 study [1] looked into this very question, and analysed the long-term trends of the mineral content of fruits and vegetables in the UK. They found that there had indeed been a decline in the mineral content of fruit and veg – all elements except phosphorus declined between 1940 and 2019, with the most significant reductions Sodium (52%), Iron (50%), Copper (49%) and Magnesium (10%).
We’ve reviewed the study and summarised the key points for you, so read on to learn more…
Has the mineral content of fruit and veg in the UK really declined?
Yes. The long term comparison of data from 1940 to 2019 shows that the mineral content of fruit and veg is lower than in 1940. The data showed significant reductions across the range of mineral nutrients, but the greatest reductions were Sodium (52%), Iron (50%), Copper (49%) and Magnesium (10%).
What about other countries?
The study looked at a number of other countries, and found that the UK was not an isolated case. Many countries experienced similar declines in the mineral content of fruit and veg since the 1940s. This suggests that there has been a worldwide decline since the introduction of industrialised agriculture.
Why has the mineral content declined so much?
The Department of Health issued a statement in 2013 saying that “changes in agricultural practices (particularly the type of fertilisers used, as well as the cultivars grown and geographical origin of some produce)… might affect the nutrient composition of the produce”.
While we cannot pin this onto one cause, the study looked at several explanations for the decline in nutrient content, including:
- Changes in where our food comes from. During the Second World War, households were encouraged to ‘Dig for Victory’ and produce their own fruit and vegetables. The largest proportion of fruit and veg that we eat are imported from abroad. By the time it reaches our plate, it may have lost a lot of the nutrients it once had.
- Change in crop varieties. Crop varieties consumed now are higher yielding but less nutrient dense than those grown and eaten previously.
- Change in soil quality. Plants take their minerals from the soil they grow in. Use of modern fertilisers (which has increased rapidly from the 1940s onwards) may inhibit uptake of nutrients such as Iron, Zinc and Manganese. A decline in the symbiotic relationship with plant roots could at least partially explain the historical decline in mineral contents of fruit and veg since the industrialisation of agriculture.
- Change in climate. Experiments where carbon dioxide is artificially increased suggest that elevated concentrations in the air can reduce mineral nutrient concentration in fruits and vegetables. With the concentration of CO2 in the air increasing since the 1940s, it follows that this might affect the mineral content of our fruit and veg.
- Post-harvest handling. Fruit and veg that is sold in supermarkets will have been processed to remove soil, trimmed, chilled and often pre-packaged. Some of these processes may affect the mineral concentrations in our fruit and vegetables.
- Shift from organic. While there is contradictory evidence on this, a recent review showed higher micronutrient content in organic versus conventional produce, favouring organic. Higher mineral nutrient concentrations (Fe, Mg and dry matter) were also found in organically grown compared to conventional.
What does this mean for us?
Fruit and veg intake is a key part of our intake of essential minerals. In view of the declining nutritional content of fruit and veg, it is increasingly harder to reach our nutritional goals.
Data from the National Diet and Nutrition Survey (from 2012-2014) suggests that significant proportions of the population consume less than the Lower Reference Nutrient Intake (LRNI) for certain minerals. Since the LRNI is the minimum amount needed to avoid deficiencies, there is a real concern that certain groups are not meeting even this requirement.
Certain groups are of particular concern, including teenager girls, vegetarians and vegans that may not be able to get minerals such as Iron from meat.
What can I do about it?
In an ideal world, we would get all our nutrients from the food we eat. However, this data suggests that it might be harder than we think to do this.
Supplementation
One answer is supplementation. Multivitamins are designed to provide the full spectrum of nutrients for optimum health. This will usually include vitamins like C, B (various types), D, E, K and A as well as minerals such as calcium, iodine, zinc, selenium, potassium, iron and magnesium.
We love Viridian’s range of multivitamins, which includes a Multivitamin and Mineral, Vegan Multi, 65+ Multi, Cardio Multi, Woman 40+ and a Viridikid children’s multivitamin. All their products are made with 100% active ingredients and are free from binders, fillers, and other additives.
We also recommend Terranova’s multivitamins to customers looking for a high-quality multivitamin – their products contain only 100% active ingredients alongside their own blend of botanicals and phytonutrient rich food to enhance absorption of the nutrients. They make a general full-spectrum multivitamin, as well as a product specifically for women, men, sport and kids.
For those that can’t take tablets, we also have a spray from BetterYou, which contains 14 essential nutrients and comes in an easy to take spray bottle.
Eat organic
We think organic is best for many reasons. We love Riverford’s organic fruit and veg – they also do fruit and veg boxes with seasonal produce, as well as meat and dairy. We also sell a wide range of organic produce in store, such as dried fruit and nuts, coffee, herbal tea and chocolate!
We are here to help – if you have any questions about the above or other supplements that may help, please contact us. The information contained in this article is not intended to treat, diagnose or replace the advice of a health practitioner. Please consult a qualified health practitioner if you have a pre-existing health condition or are currently taking medication. Food supplements should not be used as a substitute for a varied and balanced diet.
[1] Berenice Mayer AM, Trenchard L, Rayns F. Historical changes in the mineral content of fruit and vegetables in the UK from 1940 to 2019: a concern for human nutrition and agriculture. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCES AND NUTRITION. 2022;73(3):315–326. https://doi.org/10.1080/09637486.2021.1981831