A new data brief from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics examines fruit and vegetable consumption among U.S. adults using data from the 2021–2023 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The report finds that while most adults reported consuming some vegetables or fruit on a given day, consumption varied substantially by family income. Adults in higher-income households were more likely to report eating fruit and several types of vegetables than adults in lower-income households.
The findings highlight persistent economic disparities in dietary patterns and access to nutritious foods. The report also compares the latest data with findings from 2015–2018, providing insight into how fruit and vegetable consumption has changed over time.