Trends in U.S. Fruit Consumption Relative to Recommendations in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans

Fruit consumption in the U.S. has been steadily declining, with average intake dropping nearly 20% since the early 2000s. Despite the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommending 2 cups of fruit daily for adults, only 15% of adults and 23% of children meet this target. Alarmingly, a growing number, 40% of adults and 29% of children, consume less than a quarter of the recommended amount. Interestingly, factors like income and fruit prices seem to have little influence, while health awareness and personal habits play a much larger role.