Over the last two months, the findings of three major peer-reviewed studies have led the lead authors to the exact same conclusion:  We must increase our efforts to promote produce consumption for the benefit of public health.

The most recent study published in Science Daily found that one in seven cardiovascular deaths could be attributed to not eating enough fruit while one in 12 of these deaths could be attributed to not eating enough vegetables. Put another way, low fruit and veggie consumption resulted in an estimated three million deaths from heart disease.

“Fruits and vegetables are a modifiable component of diet that can impact preventable deaths globally,” according to lead author Dr. Victoria Miller, Tufts University, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. “Our findings indicate the need for population-based efforts to increase fruit and vegetable consumption throughout the world.”

Another study recently published found that “prescriptions” for healthy foods could save more than $100 billion in healthcare costs.  The healthy foods included fruits and veggies plus seafood, whole grains and plant oils. And the third found that improving eating and drinking habits could prevent one in five deaths around the world.  “Eating too few fruits and vegetables and too much sodium accounted for half of all deaths and two-thirds of the years of disability attributable to diet,” according to this study.

While these findings about the nutritional benefits of produce are significant and dramatic, the three studies simply support decades of research which found that a plant-rich diet leads to better health and a longer life.

This is why the Alliance for Food and Farming (AFF) strongly advocates for consumer choice by working to remove misguided safety fears as a barrier to consumption.  Choose either organic or conventional fruits and veggies but choose to eat more every day – both are safe and can be eaten with confidence.  This is the simple message we convey by sharing science based safety information so consumers can make the right produce shopping choices for themselves and their families.

These study findings also underscore that perpetuating misinformation about produce safety to try and influence shopping behavior is a disservice to consumers, especially when only one in 10 Americans eat enough each day.  Further illustrating this point is peer-reviewed research which found that when consumers were exposed to inaccurate activist messaging about “high” residues, they stated they were less likely to purchase any produce – organic or conventional.

One final point about these studies and the decades of nutritional research that preceded them – they were largely conducted using conventionally grown fruits and vegetables.