Children eat proportionally more processed meat than adults – with over a third (36%) of meat eaten by children coming from processed meat such as bacon, ham and sausages. The report also found:
- Little is being done to stem the flow of processed meat, even though Government’s own healthy eating guidance recommends eating less red meat and processed meat
- Schools, restaurants and fast-food outlets are serving up meaty menus that leave families with few plant-rich options for their children
- The most commonly eaten processed meats for UK children under 18 are sausages, coated chicken and ham
- 9% of the meat children under 18 eat comes from pizza
The Food Foundation says a lack of action from policymakers to support the public to consume less processed meat is ‘concerning’ given that the Government’s own healthy eating guide recommends that we eat less red and processed meat.
Cancer Research UK estimates that of the 42,000 new cases of bowel cancer that occur every year in the UK, 13% (or over 5,400) are caused by eating too much processed meat. The Climate Change Committee has recommended the UK reduce meat consumption by 35% by 2050 to remain on track to meet climate targets.
Rebecca Tobi, senior business and investor engagement manager at the Food Foundation, said: "The UK’s food system is rigged against parents trying to feed their families healthy foods, with processed meat an affordable and all too available option when eating out of the home.
"But as a nation we are eating too much processed meat, despite a very strong body of evidence linking it to a host of chronic diseases. It is particularly worrying to see children eating such a high proportion of processed meat, with schools and restaurants often serving up very meaty menus.
"Businesses and policymakers must work together for both people and planet to ensure that healthier and more sustainable plant-rich options are more available and crucially more affordable to better support families."