Whitehead et al. respond

1(p207) Although these statements are definitive, the evidence for them is less so, deriving mostly from observational studies and various problematic research designs.2 It is entirely possible that worldwide fruit-andvegetable consumption is already at an appropriate level (or maybe even too high), and what the world's people may want to do to improve their health is consume fewer processed products like those containing refined grains and sugar. [...]a possibility would certainly give the appearance of a uniquely healthy effect, but would make fruits and vegetables no more "inadequate" in a person's diet than other unprocessed foods (e.g., nuts, whole grains, fish, wild game) that might replace processed foods; and no more inadequate than other foods that might supply appearance-benefiting yellow pigments (e.g., liver, eggs, cheese).9 In fact, if preferentially eating certain other whole foods would produce more-desirable health effects, then consuming fruits and vegetables instead could be relatively unhealthy. [...]better evidence is available, we, in public health might proceed with more cautious statements such as: