Nearly one in five young children believes fish fingers are made from chicken, a survey has revealed.

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.

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

There was also uncertainty about other foods, with 22 per cent of five to seven-year-olds saying prawns come from plants and 20 per cent suggesting that chips are made of animals.