Children confused over food

Cheese comes from plants, tomatoes grow underground and fish fingers are made of chicken – at least that is according to many of the nation’s youngsters.

A new poll suggests confusion among UK children about the origins of their foods. Nearly a third (29 per cent) of five to seven-year-olds thought that cheese came from a plant, not an animal, while one in four older primary school pupils (aged eight to 11) thought the same.

In addition, just over one in five (22 per cent) of the infants, and 13 per cent of the older primary group believed that animals provide us with pasta.

There was also uncertainty about other foods, with 22 per cent of five to seven-yearolds saying prawns come from plants and 20 per cent suggesting that chips are made of animals. 5,040 children were questioned by the British Nutrition Foundation for Healthy Eating Week.