Vital signs: fruit and vegetable intake among children - United States, 2003-2010.

BACKGROUND: Eating more fruits and vegetables adds underconsumed nutrients to diets, reduces the risks for leading causes of illness and death, and helps manage body weight. This report describes trends in the contributions of fruits and vegetables to the diets of children aged 2-18 years. METHODS: CDC analyzed 1 day of 24-hour dietary recalls from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys from 2003 to 2010 to estimate trends in children's fruit and vegetable intake in cup-equivalents per 1,000 calories (CEPC) and trends by sex, age, race/ethnicity, family income to poverty ratio, and obesity status. Total fruit includes whole fruit (all fruit excluding juice) and fruit juice (from 100% juice, foods, and other beverages). Total vegetables include those encouraged in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010 (i.e., dark green, orange, and red vegetables and legumes), white potatoes, and all other vegetables. RESULTS: Total fruit intake among children increased from 0.55 CEPC in 2003-2004 to 0.62 in 2009-2010 because of significant increases in whole fruit intake (0.24 to 0.40 CEPC). Over this period, fruit juice intake significantly decreased (0.31 to 0.22 CEPC). Total vegetable intake did not change (0.54 to 0.53 CEPC). No socio-demographic group met the Healthy People 2020 target of 1.1 CEPC vegetables, and only children aged 2-5 years met the target of 0.9 CEPC fruits. CONCLUSIONS: Children's total fruit intake increased because of increases in whole fruit consumption, but total vegetable intake remained unchanged. IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH PRACTICE: Increased attention to the policies and food environments in multiple settings, including schools, early care and education, and homes might help continue the progress in fruit intake and improve vegetable intake.

Overview of the impact of epidemic-assistance investigations of foodborne and other enteric disease outbreaks, 1946-2005.

Epidemic-assistance investigations (Epi-Aids) in response to outbreaks of foodborne and other enteric pathogens have identified novel pathogens, clinical syndromes, and sequelae; described new reservoirs and vehicles of transmission; evaluated existing prevention strategies; and identified deficiencies in the food safety systems on local, national, and international levels. Since the first Epi-Aid was issued in 1946, approximately 23% (1,023 of 4,484 for which investigations were initiated) of all Epi-Aids have been related to foodborne or other enteric diseases. Epi-Aid results have yielded valuable insights into the epidemiology of these pathogens and have molded prevention strategies for detecting, responding to, and preventing future outbreaks. New challenges, brought about in part by centralization and globalization of the food supply, will continue to emerge. The need for Epi-Aids of such outbreaks undoubtedly will persist as an integral part of future public health response efforts, prevention strategies, and training programs.