Fruit and vegetables are being gradually stripped of the natural goodness which makes them beneficial for health, experts have found.
An alarming drop in essential minerals means that the apples and greens of today are nowhere near as good for us as those eaten 50 years ago.
Some fruits are also becoming sweeter than they were during the last century, leading to fears about tooth decay and obesity.
Research by nutritionist David Thomas reveals that the food we are eating is simply not as good for us as it was during World War II.
Crops are being grown in soil stripped of its goodness. Vitamin loss could be exacerbated by fruits being picked before they are ripe.
They are often flown long distances before they actually hit the shelves and nutritionists say that fruit and vegetables which are fresh are more likely to contain the most vitamins.