Within the scope of the SUSPER project, an analysis of vegetable consumption
was carried out in 2002. It dealt with both the quantitative (evolution of consumed
quantities) and qualitative aspects (medical risks associated with vegetable
consumption) of vegetable consumption.
With nearly 6 million tons consumed per year, vegetables represent in volume
the second foodstuff in Vietnam after rice. The total increase in consumption
results both from population growth (2% per year) and individual consumption
increase (54 kg/capita/year).
However, the value of consumed vegetables represents less than 5% of the total
food consumption value.
The consumption of vegetables is higher for urban consumers than for rural
consumers (+17%), and increases in proportion to household income.
Vegetables constitute a major component of Vietnamese cooking. Cooking
techniques seem to be changing, however, especially in urban areas. This is
because vegetables are increasingly served with meat (the consumption of which
is also increasing) or in meals prepared by street restaurants.
Another important point is that 88.5% of all Hanoi residents interviewed
considered vegetables to be a health hazard due to the increasing use of
agrochemical input. This fact does not seem to affect vegetable consumption
because vegetables are thought of as having high nutritional qualities.
Consumers also put their faith in their own practices when it comes to choosing
and preparing vegetables in order to avoid health risks.