Fruits and vegetables are major contributors of important under consumed nutrients.1 Consuming them may reduce the risk of many chronic diseases and may help people achieve and maintain a healthy weight when consumed instead of higher-calorie foods.1 Fruit and vegetable intake is one of the most consistent dietary factors that promotes health.2 Despite the benefits, few Americans consume recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables.3
Surveillance of fruit and vegetable intake is important because it can identify populations at risk, track trends in intake over time, and inform policy and program development. The 2017 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) Fruit and Vegetable (FV) Module is included as part of the rotating core survey (odd years) (Appendix A). The Module is one of the only sources of data to biannually monitor consumption of FVs at the state level. These questions differ from the FV intake questions asked as part of the 1989–2009 and 2011–2015 FV Module. As with any change, questions may arise about how to use the FV Module.
The purpose of this guidance document is to provide answers to common questions about the FV Module and increase the capacity for states to use it. People commonly ask about the rationale for collecting FV intake data, what revisions were made to the new 2017 FV Module, and how to use the FV Module to estimate the state- level frequency of daily total FV intake and percentage of adults meeting United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) FV recommendations.
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