Apples are the most likely fruits to be eaten by American children, a new study has shown.

New data published in American publication, Journal of Pediatrics, analysed over 3,000 children and young people aged between two and 19.

Researchers found that apples accounted for 18.9 per cent of all fruit intake, rising to 22.4 per cent among six to 11-year-olds. Between the ages of two and five apple consumption represented 14.6 per cent of total fruit intake.

Over half (53 per cent) of total fruit intake from the whole sample came from whole fruits. As well as apples, apple juice, citrus juice and bananas were responsible for almost half of total fruit consumption.

The study also found that children from white, Hispanic and Asian backgrounds got over 50 per cent of their fruit intake from whole fruits, while black children got less than half of their fruit intake from whole fruits.

There were further differences by race in intake of citrus, berries, melons, dried fruit, and fruit juices, and the study concluded that findings provide insight into what fruit US youth are consuming according to socioeconomic and racial background.