Children 'lack knowledge on food'

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Many children are confused about what areas of Britain its traditional dishes originate from, a survey suggests.

Of 1,000 children in England aged between eight and 13, 54% did not know pasties come from Cornwall and 57% did not know haggis originates in Scotland.

About 80% of those questioned did not know Lancashire is home of the hotpot, with 13% in the North West thinking it comes from London.

The poll is for British Food Fortnight, which aims to educate school children.

Other results from the survey, carried out in July in conjunction with the Year of Food and Farming, found that one in five of the children questioned in the South West thought Cheddar cheese comes from the Midlands, rather than Somerset.

And only 39% of children in the North West knew the Eccles cake originates from Manchester.

The consequences of this lack of awareness amongst our children could be monumental, from obesity to falling sales for Great British products Alexia RobinsonBritish Food Fortnight

During the promotional fortnight, 9,000 chefs will be sent to schools to teach children about national dishes.

Schools have also been invited to enter the British Food Fortnight Cook for Life Challenge, which will identify schools that incorporate cookery in the curriculum in the most imaginative way.

Alexia Robinson, organiser of the British Food Fortnight, said: "We desperately need to re-engage children with the pleasures of eating quality, fresh, seasonal and regionally-distinct produce.

"The consequences of this lack of awareness amongst our children could be monumental, from obesity to falling sales for Great British products.

"British Food Fortnight is an annual mass movement to excite and educate young people about British food."