Cheese comes from plants, tomatoes grow underground and fish fingers are made of chicken, according to many young children quizzed on their knowledge of where food comes from.

Nearly a third (29%) 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%) of the infants, and 13% of the older primary group believed that pasta comes from animals.

Around one in 10 (11%) of 11-14-year-olds and a similar proportion of 14-16-year-olds (10%) thought that tomatoes grow underground.

While 73% of five to seven-year-olds and 92% of eight to 11-year-olds knew that fish fingers are usually made from haddock or cod, 18% of the younger pupils thought they were made of chicken, along with 6% of the older group.


Some 11% of both 11-14-year-olds and 14-16-year-olds thought that fruit pastilles counted towards their five-a-day, while 27% of the younger group and 26% of the older range thought that they could include strawberry jam as part of their daily fruit and veg.

The findings did however show that 31% of 11-14-year-olds and 28% of 14-16-year-olds say that they know lots about healthy eating and try to follow it, while almost half of the younger group and 48% of the older children say they know lots but either do not follow it or do not always follow it.

The survey by the British Nutrition Foundation for its Healthy Eating Week questioned 5,040 UK children between 24 April and 12 May.

Roy Ballam, BNF managing director and head of education, said: "Schools and families can and should successfully work together to, in turn, educate children and then motivate them in their endeavours to make healthier choices.

"Furthermore, the links between physical activity, health and diet should be frequently highlighted by the Government's programmes."