EGGS come from sheep, crisps are made of plastic and butterflies produce cheese – these are just some of the wrong answers given by children in a test of their knowledge of food sources, it was revealed today.
The survey of more than 1,000 schoolchildren showed that nearly two- thirds struggled to identify the origins of the everyday foods they eat.
Some thought beef burgers came from McDonalds or Burger King, that yoghurts were made using turkeys or ducks, ham came from the Co-Op, bacon from horses, goats or peacocks and cheese originated from butterflies, rats or mice. Fewer than one in four knew that beef burgers are sourced from cows, with 29% saying beef burgers came from pigs.
More than 1,100 youngsters from Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset, between the ages of six and eight, were questioned for the research commissioned by rural insurance firm Cornish Mutual.
The survey was used to determine their level of awareness and knowledge of vegetables, dairy products and meat produce and to see if they were able to recognise how they are sourced.
