Evaluating free school fruit: results from a natural experiment in Norway with representative data

AbstractObjectiveTo assess impacts of the nationwide Norwegian School Fruit Scheme (NSFS) using nationally representative data.DesignThe NSFS is organized such that primary-school children (grades 1–7) are randomly assigned to one of three school fruit arrangements: (i) the child receives one free fruit or vegetable per day; (ii) the child is given the option to subscribe to one fruit or vegetable per day at a subsidized price; and (iii) the child attends a school that has no school fruit arrangement.SettingData from an Internet survey are used to compare child and parental fruit and vegetable intakes across the three NSFS groups focusing mainly on groups (i) and (iii). The analysis was con…