Added sugar and sodium levels in New Zealand processed fruit and vegetable-based products.

Consumers need to be aware that although they are encouraged to eat a diet high in fruit and vegetables, there may be large quantities of added sugar and sodium in manufactured fruit and vegetable products that can have significant negative impacts on their health. Government health promotion campaigns encouraging the consumption of fruit and vegetables should be careful to target fresh, frozen and home-prepared foods, and work on educating the public about the lower nutritional quality associated with most processed fruit and vegetable products.