Table 4.
Top fruit and vegetable sources of carotenoids (μg/d)* in the 2002–4 World Health Survey (WHS) assessed by geographic diet cluster
| Geographic diet cluster† | α-Carotene (%) | β-Carotene (%) | β-Cryptoxanthin (%) | Lutein/zeaxanthin (%) | Lycopene (%) | |
| M | Americas and Australia | Carrots and turnips (68 %), Pumpkins, squash and gourds (11 %), Tomatoes (8 %) | Carrots and turnips (28 %), Lettuce and chicory (25 %), Tomatoes (11 %) | Oranges (30 %), Tangerines, mandarins, clementines (19 %), Orange juice (13 %) | Lettuce and chicory (36 %), Cabbages and other brassicas (17 %), Spinach (10 %) | Tomatoes (73 %), Watermelons (21 %) |
| H | South/Central America | Carrots and turnips (54 %), Plantains (21 %), Pumpkins, squash and gourds (11 %) | Carrots and turnips (32 %), Tomatoes (9 %), Lettuce and chicory (9 %) | Papayas (32 %), Oranges (28 %), Tangerines, mandarins, clementines (11 %) | Cabbages and other brassicas (19 %), Lettuce and chicory (16 %), Maize (10 %) | Tomatoes (48 %), Mangoes, mangosteens, guavas (23 %), Watermelons (19 %) |
| K | South America | Carrots and turnips (50 %), Plantains (20 %), Tomatoes (12 %) | Carrots and turnips (31 %), Tomatoes (24 %), Cabbages and other brassicas (12 %) | Papayas (37 %), Oranges (24 %), Tangerines, mandarins, clementines (18 %) | Cabbages and other brassicas (37 %), Tomatoes (13 %), Pumpkins, squash and gourds (8 %) | Tomatoes (75 %), Watermelons (13 %), Mangoes, mangosteens, guavas (6 %) |
| B | Southern Europe/Mediterranean | Carrots and turnips (62 %), Tomatoes (13 %), Pumpkins, squash and gourds (9 %) | Carrots and turnips (23 %), Tomatoes (15 %), Lettuce and chicory (13 %) | Tangerines, mandarins, clementines (29 %), Oranges (25 %), Watermelons (11 %) | Lettuce and chicory (22 %), Cabbages and other brassicas (21 %), Spinach (16 %) | Tomatoes (63 %), Watermelons (34 %) |
| E | Western Europe | Carrots and turnips (82 %), Veg, dehydrated (4 %), Pumpkins, squash and gourds (3 %) | Carrots and turnips (42 %), Cabbages and other brassicas (16 %), Lettuce and chicory (9 %) | Tangerines, mandarins, clementines (33 %), Orange juice (17 %), Oranges (11 %) | Cabbages and other brassicas (35 %), Lettuce and chicory (14 %), Veg, frozen (10 %) | Tomatoes (66 %), Watermelons (18 %), Veg, dehydrated (5 %) |
| F | Northern Europe | Carrots and turnips (88 %), Veg, dehydrated (3 %) | Carrots and turnips (51 %), Cabbages and other brassicas (19 %), Lettuce and chicory (7 %) | Tangerines, mandarins, clementines (35 %), Orange juice (18 %), Oranges (13 %) | Cabbages and other brassicas (47 %), Lettuce and chicory (12 %), Veg, prepared (11 %) | Tomatoes (56 %), Watermelons (23 %), Tomato juice (11 %) |
| D | Eastern Europe | Carrots and turnips (76 %), Pumpkins, squash and gourds (12 %), Tomatoes (6 %) | Carrots and turnips (38 %), Cabbages and other brassicas (32 %), Tomatoes (10 %) | Tangerines, mandarins, clementines (24 %), Oranges (17 %), Watermelons (16 %) | Cabbages and other brassicas (73 %), Pumpkins, squash and gourds (7 %), Tomatoes (4 %) | Tomatoes (62 %), Watermelons (37 %) |
| G | Asia‡ | Carrots and turnips (62 %), Pumpkins, squash and gourds (18 %), Tomatoes (6 %) | Cabbages and other brassicas (28 %), Spinach (20 %), Carrots and turnips (15 %) | Tangerines, mandarins, clementines (23 %), Watermelons (19 %), Persimmons (15 %) | Cabbages and other brassicas (41 %), Spinach (33 %), Lettuce and chicory (10 %) | Watermelons (54 %), Tomatoes (32 %), Mangoes, mangosteens, guavas (12 %) |
| L | Asia‡ | Carrots and turnips (60 %), Pumpkins, squash and gourds (14 %), Veg, dehydrated (8 %) | Cabbages and other brassicas (41 %), Carrots and turnips (17 %), Spinach (7 %) | Persimmons (40 %), Tangerines, mandarins, clementines (30 %), Papayas (5 %) | Cabbages and other brassicas (60 %), Spinach (12 %), Lettuce and chicory (6 %) | Watermelons (44 %), Tomatoes (23 %), Mangoes, mangosteens, guavas (21 %) |
| C | Northern Africa/Middle East | Carrots and turnips (49 %), Pumpkins, squash and gourds (19 %), Tomatoes (15 %) | Carrots and turnips (23 %), Tomatoes (23 %), Cabbages and other brassicas (9 %) | Tangerines, mandarins, clementines (25 %), Oranges (21 %), Watermelons (19 %) | Cabbages and other brassicas (23 %), Pumpkins, squash and gourds (13 %), Tomatoes (10 %) | Tomatoes (71 %), Watermelons (26 %) |
| A | Central Africa§ | Plantains (63 %), Pumpkins, squash and gourds (19 %), Carrots and turnips (8 %) | Plantains (29 %), Cabbages and other brassicas (19 %), Pumpkins, squash and gourds (14 %) | Maize (46 %), Papayas (24 %), Chillies and peppers, green (9 %) | Cabbages and other brassicas (38 %), Pumpkins, squash and gourds (20 %), Maize (19 %) | Tomatoes (72 %), Mangoes, mangosteens, guavas (16 %), Watermelons (6 %) |
| J | Central Africa§ | Plantains (48 %), Carrots and turnips (38 %), Tomatoes (5 %) | Carrots and turnips (27 %), Plantains (16 %), Tomatoes (11 %) | Papayas (62 %), Maize (14 %), Chillies and peppers, green (12 %) | Cabbages and other brassicas (26 %), Maize (17 %), Okra (13 %) | Tomatoes (43 %), Mangoes, mangosteens, guavas (23 %), Watermelons (21 %) |
| I | Southern Africa | Plantains (46 %), Carrots and turnips (32 %), Pumpkins, squash and gourds (8 %) | Cabbages and other brassicas (38 %), Carrots and turnips (17 %), Plantains (11 %) | Maize (25 %), Oranges (20 %), Chillies and peppers, green (18 %) | Cabbages and other brassicas (66 %), Spinach (6 %), Maize (5 %) | Tomatoes (74 %), Mangoes, mangosteens, guavas (16 %), Watermelons (3 %) |
Veg, vegetables.
Percentage contribution by fruit and vegetable categories contributing ≥ 3 %, in descending order.
Geographic diet clusters were based on the 2006 Global Environment Monitoring System (GEMS)/Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment Programme (GEMS/Food) clusters and the 2002–7 FAO supply utilisation accounts data; fruit and vegetable intakes were as reported in the 2002–4 WHS data; carotenoid concentration data were obtained from the US Department of Agriculture National Nutrient Database, Standard Reference Release 25.
Asia was separated by the GEMS into two clusters; both diets were high in rice and wheat. Cluster G was characterised by higher availability of fruiting vegetables, milk and milk products, potatoes, and fish/seafood and fish/seafood products, while cluster L was characterised by higher availability of fish/seafood and fish/seafood products, maize, milk and milk products, and brassica vegetables.
Central Africa was separated by the GEMS into two clusters. Cluster A was characterised by higher availability of plantains, cassava, rice, wheat, maize, and milk and milk products. Cluster J was characterised by higher availability of cassava, sorghum, milk and milk products, millet, rice, and maize.