The findings were revealed in a joint report by food company Organix and the Soil Association, as they launched a campaign and petition calling on the Government to put nutritional standards in place for nurseries.
More than 1,300 people had signed the petition within 24 hours of it going live.
The report, Georgie Porgie Pudding and Pie: Exposing the truth about nursery food, published on Tuesday (21 October), emphasised that there are no clear nutritional standards for nursery food and that some nurseries spend just 25p per child on a meal.
It said, 'No Government department has been willing to take responsibility for the quality of food provided in nurseries. Despite much questioning, the research team could find no-one in the DCSF that was clearly responsible for this vital service.'
Although some food colourings and additives are banned in manufactured food for under-threes, researchers found that some nurseries are still serving them.
They also found that foods such as crisps, sweets and economy burgers that are now banned or restricted in primary schools are served in some nurseries.
'Without clear regulation and better information for nursery staff, this situation will continue,' the report said.
However, it did find examples of high-quality, freshly prepared, locally sourced and even organic food spread across private, voluntary and maintained nurseries.
The report recommended that the Government adopt the Caroline Walker Trust guidelines for children under five, which were published in 2006, and that a minimum of 50p be spent for every nursery child's lunch.
Nine out of ten nurseries, the report said, are not covered by any nutritional standards because they are in the PVI sector.
Basic statutory nutrition standards only apply to lunches in state-maintained nurseries and Sure Start children's centres, and they 'fall short' of those set for older children in primary and secondary schools which are governed by the School Food Trust, the report said.
Online surveys were carried out with 487 nursery workers and 1,773 parents, who were asked about what type of food was served, water provision, and parents' views on nursery food.
The surveys revealed a strong demand for greater regulation: 85 per cent of parents and 82 per cent of nursery staff questioned said there should be clearer guidelines and standards for food served in nurseries.
Anna Rosier, managing director of Organix, said, 'The reason we carried out this report was not to say that nurseries are in a bad way, but to try to create a better environment.'
She said legislation was needed to provide better information for nurseries because although the quality of food in some nurseries was 'shocking', it was because information was unavailable.
She added that the lack of regulation meant it was impossible 'for a parent to find out if their child's nursery is providing good, bad or indifferent food without minimum standards. We need a basic level of nutritional requirements. But there are nurseries doing a great job.'
To join the campaign, go to www.nurseryfood.org.
