Boxes of grapes are displayed at a supermarket chain in Seoul on Aug. 11, 2024. YonhapSEOUL, August 22 (AJU PRESS) - Rising prices of fruit and vegetables have taken a toll on the dietary habits of Koreans, a survey reveals.
According to a report released by the Seoul Institute on Thursday, based on a long-term analysis of nearly 13,000 residents in Seoul between 2012 and 2021, their average daily fruit consumption decreased by 33.2 percent from 182.4 grams to 121.8 over the decade.
Consumption of vegetables also fell from 278.1 grams to 244.1 grams during the same period. The proportion of those eating less than 500 grams of fruits and vegetables a day increased from 61.4 percent to 71.8 percent.
Rising prices, especially for apples and pears, caused by supply shortages stemming from climate-related disruptions such as record heatwaves and floods, were blamed for the decline.
According to global investment bank Nomura Securities, fruit prices in Korea surged by a whopping 36.9 percent in the first quarter of this year, the highest increase among major countries. Vegetable prices also rose significantly by 10.7 percent, compared to 9.3 percent in Italy and 7.3 percent in the U.K.
Instead, many have turned to meat, with their average consumption rising from 110 grams to 149.1 grams a day.
The report also found that about 31.6 percent of busy Seoulites skipped breakfast, up from 21.1 percent a decade ago. By age group, over half of those in their 20s did not have breakfast, followed by those in their 30s and 40s (39.3 percent), and teenagers (38.3 percent).
Reflecting these dietary changes, the number of people with chronic diseases like hypertension and diabetes rose from 23.6 percent to 26.1 percent and from 7.9 percent to 11.8 percent, respectively.
"We need to come up with policies to promote healthy dietary habits while encouraging consumption of fruit and vegetables," said the institute.
