Brits 'shouldn't sacrifice fruit to save money'

A spokesperson from a leading dietary advice bureau has warned British shoppers that they should not risk their health by cutting back on fruit, despite rising food prices.

Jacqui Lowdon, spokesperson for the British Dietetic Association (BDA), said that although fruit is not cheap, it is worth continuing to buy thanks to the health benefits it can offer.

"With rising food prices, people may be tempted [to cut back] and fruit isn't cheap. [Howewer], people need to look at the long term and see that actually, it is a good investment because you are investing in your health. People need to realise this," she stressed.

It is recommended that Britons should aim to eat five portions of fruit or vegetables per day.

The BDA states that one portion constitutes a medium-sized fruit, such as one apple, banana, pear, orange, nectarine, or a sharon fruit, a small-sized fruit, such as two plums, two satsumas, three apricots, two kiwi fruit, seven strawberries, 14 cherries or six lychees, or a large fruit, such as half a grapefruit, one slice of papaya, one slice of melon, one large slice of pineapple or two slices of mango.

However, it seems that many people have taken on board the benefits of blueberries, since sales in the UK have risen by 132 per cent since 2005.