Contribution of supply of vitamin C by fruits in food self-sufficiency ratio based on vitamin C supply
2007
Noguchi, M.(National Inst. of Fruit Tree Science, Shizuoka (Japan). Okitsu Citrus Research Station) | Hasegawa, Y. | Kajiura, I.
As a trial to estimate food demand and supply on the basis of various aspects, we calculated the food self-sufficiency ratio based on vitamin C, an essential nutrient. We calculated the amount of vitamin C supplied from each food group according to the calculation method of the Food Balance Sheet developed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries. The result shows that the major sources of vitamin C are fruits and vegetables, particularly citrus fruits. For each food group, we divided the amounts of vitamin C into the amounts of vitamin C in domestic foods and the amounts of vitamin C in imported foods. The result shows that the total amount of vitamin C obtained from domestic foods has been decreasing over the last 30 years and we were not able to provide the recommended dietary allowance of vitamin C from domestic foods in 2001. The food self-sufficiency ratio based on vitamin C in 2001 was less than 70%. In spite of the decrease in the amount of vitamin C obtained from domestic fruits, the total amount of vitamin C obtained from all fruits has been increasing over the last 30 years because of the increase in the amount of imported fruits. This is also one of the reasons we have increased our dependence on vitamin C obtained from imported foods and the food self-sufficiency ratio based on vitamin C has decreased in Japan. As a result of calculating the food self-sufficiency ratio based on vitamin C as an essential nutrient, for providing the recommended dietary allowance of vitamin C obtained from domestic foods for all Japanese, it is very important to increase both production and consumption of domestic fresh fruits.
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