Nursery World - Ultra-processed foods are 'robbing' children of the 'joy' of eating, warn experts

A charity concerned with ‘the way Britain eats’, with support from celebrity chefs, doctors and head teachers, has written to the Prime Minister urging him to commit to reducing the amount of ultra processed foods children consume and ‘embracing' schools to be part of the solution.

The Soil Association is warning about the health risks associated with children eating highly-processed foods, PHOTO: Adobe Stock

The open letter from the Soil Association states, ‘Learning to eat should be an adventure – joyful and challenging – but our children are being increasingly robbed of the experience. Many are growing up not knowing the tastes, textures and smells of real food.

‘Many will enter adulthood only knowing the simplified and sweet flavours of ultra-processed products, leading to unhealthy choices and poorer health outcomes later in life.

‘Ultra-processed foods now make up roughly two-thirds of the average child’s diet in the UK.’

It goes on to say, ‘We believe that a love of good food should be nurtured in children from the youngest age possible, and schools should play a starring role.

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