Worldwide, the low consumption of fruits and vegetables is considered
one of the 10 leading risk factors for mortality (World Health
Organization, 2004): up to 2.7 million lives could be saved annually
with sufficient fruit and vegetable consumption (World Health
Organization, 2003a). Despite the multiple benefits attributable to
fruit and vegetable intake, their consumption is below usual recommendations
(World Health Organization, 2003b), especially in resourceconstrained
settings.