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Increasing obesity rates and health care costs have prompted worksites to investigate interventions to improve employee health. The purpose of this paper is to determine the effect of worksite cafeteria interventions on fruit and vegetable (F/V) consumption.

This review was guided by the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses method. After a thorough literature search and screening process, 18 studies were included in the review. Data were extracted, and a risk of bias assessment was created for the primary studies. An un-weighted average was used to determine the overall ranking for each study.

There appears to be a moderately strong association toward a positive impact of cafeteria interventions to increase F/V consumption. Of the 18 studies in the review, 13 reported a statistically significant increase, one reported a significant decrease, three reported mixed results, and one did not assess a change in consumption.

Most of the data were self-reported and is subject to error. Furthermore, the heterogeneity of study design, method, and outcome measures among the studies warrants additional research with consistent methodology.

A positive impact on F/V consumption may be realized by the following techniques: price-point subsidies, point-of-purchase materials, and menu modification.

This new information on increasing F/V consumption in workplace cafeterias may improve employee health and reduce the risk of chronic disease.

Blue-collar manufacturing workers are more likely to have lifestyle risk factors, including a lower intake of fruit and vegetables, for the development of chronic diseases. The purpose of this paper is to assess the effects of worksite health-promotion interventions on fruit and vegetable intake among manufacturing workers.

This paper reviews the evidence for the effectiveness of interventions and makes recommendations on best practices. Types of interventions and theoretical frameworks used in the workplace are reviewed, and findings are presented through research examples. Research for this paper was conducted using PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and PsycINFO.

Positive results were found for the effectiveness of interventions to increase fruit and vegetable consumption. Multiple levels of intervention, an emphasis on employee participation in planning, higher self-efficacy, and social support were found to be effective.

Limitations of this review included self-reported data on fruit and vegetable intake. Also, determining if one intervention was more efficacious than another was difficult when multiple interventions were used within a study. Questions have been raised regarding the long-term impact of increased fruit and vegetable intake among employees.

When planning programs, multiple levels of intervention will be needed to increase fruit and vegetable intake among workers. Also, employee participation should be emphasized when planning and implementing programs.

The use of manufacturing companies should be considered as a platform for health-promotion programs. Increasing fruit and vegetable intake has the potential to impact numerous blue-collar workers to help reduce the risk of chronic disease.