X International Symposium on Human Health Effects of Fruits and Vegetables — FAVHEALTH 2024

Fruit and vegetables play a critical role in the diet and are gaining increased attention with a shift to more sustainable diets and people adopting vegan/vegetarian/flexitarian eating patterns. ‘A diet rich in fruit and vegetables’ is a key component of so-called ‘green prescriptions’ for people wanting to manage ‘Metabolic Syndrome’: the cluster of health conditions that increase the risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes. Plant-based diets are also recommended from the viewpoint of the health of the planet, increasing the sustainability of agricultural production. In recent years we have seen a health claim for green kiwifruit accepted by EFSA and acceptance of a genetically-modified purple tomato by USDA.

In this Symposium we want to bring together researchers from many disciplines who share an interest in the following overlapping topics:

• Evidence for health benefits of specific horticultural products in the diet
• Evidence for health benefits of nutrients and phytochemicals in fruit & vegetables
• Genetic and environmental impacts on health benefits of horticultural products
• Value of in vitro, in vivo animal studies and human clinical studies
• Impact of public health policies and campaigns like ‘5+ A Day’ on dietary risk factors 
• Understanding consumer perceptions and behaviour
• The role of gene editing and heritage germplasm in delivering improved products
• Postharvest studies on fruit and vegetables for health
• Biochemical composition of under-utilised or indigenous horticultural productsIncreasing nutrient density or biofortification
• Health claims and labelling legislation for horticultural products