NCHS Data Brief No. 570, September 2026

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Nae Y. Won, Ph.D., M.P.H., Nicholas Ansai, M.P.H., Edwina A. Wambogo, Ph.D., M.S., M.P.H., R.D., and Namanjeet Ahluwalia, Ph.D., D.Sc.

Introduction

Consuming fruits and vegetables provides essential nutrients, such as vitamins and fiber, and reduces the risk of chronic disease (1-3). The 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends that adults consume a variety of fruits and vegetables (1). During 2015-2018, 67.3% of U.S. adults consumed fruit on a given day and 95.0% consumed vegetables (4). This report provides updated estimates of the percentage of adults age 20 and older who consumed fruits and vegetables on a given day during August 2021-August 2023, including the types of fruits and vegetables.

Fruit consumption by sex

• During August 2021-August 2023, 69.9% of adults age 20 and older consumed any fruit on a given day. A higher percentage of women consumed fruit (73.5%) than men (66.1%) (Figure 1, Table 1).
• More women than men consumed citrus, melons, or berries (35.2% compared with 27.2%, respectively) and other whole fruit (52.9% compared with 47.0%).
• No significant difference was seen in the percentage of adults consuming 100% fruit juice by sex.

Vegetable consumption by sex

• Overall, 93.3% of adults consumed any vegetables on a given day, and vegetable consumption was similar between men and women (Figure 2, Table 2).
• More women than men consumed dark green vegetables (41.8% compared with 33.7%, respectively) and other vegetables (78.4% compared with 75.7%).

Fruit consumption by family income

• The percentage of adults who consumed any fruit on a given day increased with family income, from 56.9% among adults with family income less than 130% of the federal poverty level (FPL) to 67.4% among adults at 130%-349% FPL and 76.5% among those at 350% or more FPL (Figure 3, Table 3).
• The percentage of adults consuming citrus, melons, or berries increased with family income, from 19.6% among adults with family incomes below 130% FPL to 30.6% among those at 130%-349% FPL and 38.0% among those at 350% or more FPL. A similar pattern was observed for other whole fruit consumption, which increased from 37.2% to 47.3% and 57.3%, respectively, across the three family income groups.
• A higher percentage of adults at 350% or more FPL reported consuming 100% fruit juice than adults at 130%-349% FPL. The observed difference between adults with family incomes less than 130% FPL and those at 350% or more FPL was not significant.

Vegetable consumption by family income

• The percentage of adults consuming any vegetables on a given day increased with family income, from 88.5% among adults with family income of less than 130% FPL to 93.0% among adults at 130%-349% FPL to 95.9% among adults at 350% or more FPL (Figure 4, Table 4).
• The percentage of adults consuming dark green vegetables increased with family income, from 29.3% among adults with family incomes below 130% FPL to 35.9% among those at 130%-349% FPL and 42.3% among those at 350% or more FPL. A similar pattern was observed for red and orange vegetables (69.2%, 75.0%, and 82.0%), and other vegetables (66.4%, 75.4%, and 83.1%).
• No significant differences were seen in the percentage of adults consuming starchy vegetables by family income.

Summary

This report provides the most recent estimates in the percentage of U.S. adults who consume fruit and vegetables. During August 2021-August 2023, 69.9% of adults consumed any fruit on a given day and 93.3% consumed any vegetables. Women were more likely than men to consume fruit overall, particularly citrus, melons, or berries, and other whole fruits, as well as dark green vegetables and other vegetables. The percentage of adults who consumed fruit and vegetables, including citrus, melons, or berries, and other whole fruit, dark green vegetables, red and orange vegetables, and other vegetables, increased with family income.

Patterns by sex and family income were generally consistent between 2015-2018 (4) and August 2021-August 2023. During both survey periods, nearly 7 in 10 adults consumed fruit and more than 9 in 10 adults consumed vegetables on a given day.

Definitions

Federal poverty level: Levels were based on the ratio of annual total family income to the poverty guidelines defined by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, adjusted for inflation and family size (5).

Food groups (types): For this analysis, a custom Food Patterns Equivalents Database (FPED) file was used to define types of fruits and vegetables. Because the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)'s FPED file for the August 2021-August 2023 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) is not yet available, a custom FPED file was developed by applying the established USDA procedures used to create earlier FPED files (6) and using the 2017-2018 food pattern equivalents assignments for ingredients.

FPED converts foods reported in NHANES into individual ingredients and assigns them to USDA Food Pattern components (such as food groups and subgroups) (6). Fruit groups or types included total fruit; citrus, melons, or berries; other fruit; and 100% fruit juice. Vegetable groups or types included total vegetables, dark green vegetables, red and orange vegetables, starchy vegetables, and other vegetables.

Data source and methods

Data from the August 2021-August 2023 NHANES were used to estimate the percentage of adults consuming fruit and vegetables on a given day. NHANES is a nationally representative, cross-sectional survey that collects data from adults and children in the United States to assess health, nutrition, diet, and health behaviors. Data are collected through in-home interviews, as well as health examinations and laboratory tests conducted in mobile examination centers (MECs).

This report used the NHANES day 1 24-hour dietary recall data collected using the USDA's standardized Automated Multiple-Pass Method. The dietary recall captures foods and beverages consumed over a 24-hour period (midnight-to-midnight). For the August 2021-August 2023 survey cycle, day 1 dietary recalls were collected via telephone interviews conducted 3-7 days after the MEC examination, rather than in person in the MEC as in previous cycles. This change may limit comparability with earlier survey cycles (7). Limitations of self-reported dietary data include misreporting and recall bias. However, dietary recall has been shown to be reliable and valid for estimating population-level dietary intake (8,9).

All estimates accounted for differential probabilities of selection, potential nonresponse, noncoverage, and day of the week using dietary day 1 sample weights (10). Variance estimation accounted for the complex survey design using Taylor series linearization. Pairwise differences were evaluated using t statistics. Linear trends by family income were assessed using orthogonal polynomials. Statistical testing was based on a p value less than 0.05 significance level. All analyses were conducted using SAS version 9.4 (SAS Institute, Cary, N.C.) and SUDAAN version 11.0 (RTI International, Research Triangle Park, N.C.).

About the authors

Nae Y. Won is an Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer assigned to the National Center for Health Statistics, Division of Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys. Nicholas Ansai and Namanjeet Ahluwalia are with the National Center for Health Statistics, Division of Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys. Edwina A. Wambogo is with the National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements.

References

1. U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Dietary guidelines for Americans, 2025-2030. 10th edition. Jan 2026. Available from: https://cdn.realfood.gov/DGA.pdf.
2. He FJ, Nowson CA, Lucas M, MacGregor GA. Increased consumption of fruit and vegetables is related to a reduced risk of coronary heart disease: Meta-analysis of cohort studies. J Hum Hypertens. 2007 Sep;21(9):717-28. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jhh.1002212.
3. Hung HC, Joshipura KJ, Jiang R, Hu FB, Hunter D, Smith-Warner SA, et al. Fruit and vegetable intake and risk of major chronic disease. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2004 Nov;96(21):1577-84. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jnci/djh296.
4. Ansai N, Wambogo EA. Fruit and vegetable consumption among adults in the United States, 2015-2018. NCHS Data Brief. 2021 Feb;(397):1-8. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.15620/cdc:100470.
5. Terry AL, Chiappa MM, McAllister J, Woodwell DA, Graber JE. Plan and operations of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, August 2021-August 2023. National Center for Health Statistics. Vital Health Stat 1. 2024 May;(66):1-22. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.15620/cdc/151927.
6. Bowman SA, Clemens JC, Friday JE, Moshfegh AJ. Food Patterns Equivalents Database 2017-2018: Methodology and user guide. U.S. Department of Agriculture. Oct 2020. Available from: https://www.ars.usda.gov/northeast-area/beltsville-md-bhnrc/beltsville-human-nutrition-research-center/food-surveys-research-group/docs/fped-methodology.
7. Williams AM, Terry A, Akinbami LJ, Ansai N, Ogden CL. What We Eat in America dietary data, NHANES: August 2021-August 2023 24-hour dietary recall interview mode change. Mar 2025. Available from: https://wwwn.cdc.gov/nchs/data/Nhanes/Public/2021/Whitepapers/Aug2023-What-We-Eat-In-America-Dietary-Data-Whitepaper.pdf.
8. Subar AF, Freedman LS, Tooze JA, Kirkpatrick SI, Boushey CJ, Neuhouser ML, et al. Addressing current criticism regarding the value of self-report dietary data. J Nutr. 2015 Dec;145(12):2639-45. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3945/jn.115.219634.
9. Park Y, Dodd KW, Kipnis V, Thompson FE, Potischman N, Schoeller DA, et al. Comparison of self-reported dietary intakes from the Automated Self-Administered 24-hour recall, 4-day food records, and food-frequency questionnaires against recovery biomarkers. Am J Clin Nutr. 2018 Jan;107(1):80-93. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/nqx002.
10. National Center for Health Statistics. Brief overview of sample design, nonresponse bias assessment, and analytic guidelines for NHANES August 2021-August 2023. Sep 2024. Available from: https://wwwn.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes/continuousnhanes/overviewbrief.aspx?Cycle=2021-2023.

Suggested citation

Won NY, Ansai N, Wambogo EA, Ahluwalia N. Fruit and vegetable consumption among adults: United States, August 2021-August 2023. NCHS Data Brief. 2026 Sep;(570):1-12. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.15620/cdc/252469.

Copyright information

All material appearing in this report is in the public domain and may be reproduced or copied without permission; citation as to source, however, is appreciated.

National Center for Health Statistics

Carolyn M. Greene, M.D., Acting Director
Amy M. Branum, Ph.D., Associate Director for Science

Division of Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys
Alan E. Simon, M.D., Director
Lara J. Akinbami, M.D., Associate Director for Science