Study claims UK and other crops have lost 20–50% of some nutrients since the 1960s
A report by the UK firm Deep Science Ventures says many common crops now hold 20–50% less of key minerals than in the 1960s, which it links to soil decline. The Daily Mail notes that not all scientists agree on the scale of the problem.
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The story, neutrally told
Right · 2Researchers at Deep Science Ventures, a UK-based tech firm, report that many common crops have lost between 20 and 50 per cent of key nutrients, including potassium, iron, selenium and zinc, since the 1960s. Daily MailR “The researchers, from tech firm Deep Science Ventures, found that many crops have lost between 20 and 50 per cent of their key nutrients including potassium, iron, selenium and zinc.” Read at Daily Mail ↗ New York PostR “researchers at the UK-based Deep Science Ventures found” Read at New York Post ↗ Right · 1The Daily Mail says the affected British crops include wheat, apples and carrots. It reports that adults would now need to eat about twice as many vegetables as in 1960 to get the same vitamins and minerals, and attributes the decline to worsening soil quality. Daily MailR “A new study found adults today need to consume twice as many vegetables as they did in 1960 to get the same amount of vital vitamins and minerals, due to a decline in soil quality.” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Right · 1The New York Post describes the findings as applying to US produce. It says bread, cereals, apples, peas and carrots lost 20–50% of several key nutrients, and that consumers need twice as much of many fruits and vegetables to get the same copper, magnesium or potassium. New York PostR “US produce harvested today is lacking in crucial nutrients, including vitamin C, calcium and iron due to drastically declining soil quality”“Bread, cereals, apples, peas and carrots also lost between 20-50% of several key nutrients.” Read at New York Post ↗
Right · 1According to the New York Post, the researchers used historical food datasets and long-term crop archives, including wheat samples spanning 160 years, to show a systematic 20–50% decline in mineral and protein density in many key foods. New York PostR “Researchers were able to show a systematic 20-50% mineral and protein density decline in many key foods by using historical food datasets and long-term crop archives, including wheat samples spanning 160 years.” Read at New York Post ↗ Right · 1The Daily Mail reports that the researchers estimate the change could push around five million working-age adults into deficiency. It adds that selenium, iron and potassium shortfalls are linked to health problems, and that the report cites the £26billion annual cost of strokes to the UK. The study appeared in the journal Food And Nutrition Sciences. Daily MailR “potentially pushing around five million working-age adults into deficiency.”“strokes carry an estimated £26billion-per-year cost to the UK”“Writing in the journal Food And Nutrition Sciences” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Right · 1The New York Post quotes Will Summers, one of the authors, as saying food security has been measured in calories for sixty years, but that 'we've been quietly hollowing out what's inside our food'. It says the Green Revolution raised food supply and cereal yields but neglected nutritional quality, causing 'hidden hunger' for 2 billion people worldwide. New York PostR ““But we’ve been quietly hollowing out what’s inside our food.””“causing “hidden hunger” — micronutrient deficiencies despite consuming adequate calories — for 2 billion globally, according to researchers.” Read at New York Post ↗
Right · 1The researchers say these deficiencies cost countries up to 3% of GDP a year in lost productivity and healthcare, and that higher atmospheric carbon dioxide, soil degradation and yield-focused agricultural policies could worsen the problem. New York PostR “Those micronutrient deficiencies run countries up to 3% of GDP annually in lost productivity and healthcare burdens”“And higher atmospheric carbon dioxide, widespread soil degradation, and yield-focused agricultural policies threaten to worsen the nutrition crisis in the decades to come.” Read at New York Post ↗ Right · 2The proposed remedies include nature-friendly and organic farming and soil organic matter enhancement, nationwide nutrient-monitoring networks, and talking about nutritional security rather than just food security. The Mail's modelling says raising nutrient density by a third could significantly cut deficiency rates without diet changes. New York PostR “researchers suggest reframing talk of food security around nutritional security and creating nationwide nutrient-monitoring networks.” Read at New York Post ↗ Daily MailR “increasing nutrient density by just a third could significantly reduce deficiency rates, without people having to change their diet.” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Right · 1The Daily Mail notes that not all scientists agree on the scale of the problem. It says they argue poor dietary choices are a far bigger threat to public health, and that only around a third of UK adults eat the recommended five portions of fruit and vegetables a day. Daily MailR “But not all scientists agree on the scale of the problem, arguing that poor dietary choices – are a far bigger threat to public health.” Read at Daily Mail ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right2 outlets
- Framing
- Both outlets lead with the headline figure of up to 50% less nutritious produce since the 1960s. The Daily Mail presents it as a British public-health and deficiency issue. The New York Post uses a more alarmed tone and a US angle, with a quote about 'hollowing out our food'.
- Emphasis
- The Mail stresses UK deficiency numbers, specific foods (carrots, potatoes, bread) and costs. The Post stresses the Green Revolution, 'hidden hunger' and economic losses.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Neither outlet gives independent expert comment on the study's methods. The Post does not mention that the research concerns UK crops or that other scientists dispute the scale. Only the Mail mentions dissent, in one line.
- Charged language
- “damning report”“hollowing out our food”“hidden hunger”
- For example
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“The effects of this are 'enormous' researchers say” — Daily Mail
“one of the authors of the damning report” — New York Post
What every side reports
- Deep Science Ventures, a UK-based firm, produced the report.
- Both outlets say many crops have lost 20–50% of key nutrients since the 1960s.
- Both attribute the decline largely to soil degradation and say people would need to eat about twice as much to get the same nutrients.
Where accounts differ
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Which crops the findings cover
- Right
- The Daily Mail says British crops such as wheat, apples and carrots; the New York Post describes US produce.
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Scale of the problem
- Right
- The Daily Mail says other scientists disagree about the scale and see poor diet as a bigger threat; the New York Post reports no dissent.
UK and Ireland1 outlet
The Daily Mail treats it as a British public-health story, with deficiency figures, NHS intake guidance and a call for government action.
“Experts are now calling on the Government to look at ways to bolster consumption of essential nutrients.” — Daily Mail
Daily Mail
North America1 outlet
The New York Post frames it as a US and global food-system problem, with an emphasis on the Green Revolution and the economic cost.
“US produce harvested today is lacking in crucial nutrients” — New York Post
New York Post
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right2 articles
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Fruit and veg is up to 50% less nutritious than it was in the 1960s, scientists suggest
Mixed Presents the study as a warning for British health with concrete food examples, while noting that some scientists dispute the scale and blame poor diets instead.
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Fruits and vegetables 50% less nutritious than in the 1960s: ‘Hollowing out our food’
Alarmist Presents the findings as a crisis for US produce, led by a quote from an author and a pun-style opening, with no mention of any dispute.
- 7 Oct 20:39 First Daily MailR Fruit and veg is up to 50% less nutritious than it was in the 1960s, scientists suggest
- 8 Oct 23:54 +27h 15m New York PostR Fruits and vegetables 50% less nutritious than in the 1960s: ‘Hollowing out our food’
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.