Several British initiatives to encourage healthy eating have achieved measurable success, according to the findings of a major European research project.
Britain’s five-a-day campaign led to people eating slightly more fruit and vegetables, researchers said.
And a campaign to cut salt consumption in 2004 led to 10% reductions, a conference heard.
The findings were revealed at the European Public Health Conference in Malta.
Researchers from the "Eatwell" project reporting evaluating a range of measures around Europe to test their effectiveness.
Campaigns such as the British ones aimed at improving "choice" generally make a small difference – but are cost-effective.
Policies aimed at restricting access to unhealthy foods – such as tax charges – are being introduced in some countries and are "highly cost-effective" but may be unpopular, they say.
The research shows that the five-a-day campaign has improved fruit and vegetable consumption by less than one portion a day – with the poorest families improving their diet on average by just one fifth of a portion.
The researchers say long-term campaigns using commercial marketing techniques may be the best approach to persuasion.
Researcher Professor Bruce Traill, of the University of Reading, UK, said: "It’s also important to take into account here that informed choice does not necessarily equal making a healthier choice; many factors influence what people ultimately choose to eat."
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