children eating fruit

The World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) has called the widespread absence of fresh produce in UK children's lunchboxes a 'missed opportunity'.

Its comment is based on research by the School Food Trust (SFT), an adviser to the UK government, which found that 42 per cent of school pupils' lunchboxes do not include any fruit or vegetables.

The SFT studied 3,500 packed lunches in England in 2009 and as a result the WCRF is urging parents to think about giving their offspring school meals, 90 per cent of which were found to contain at least one portion of the recommended five fruit and vegetables a day.

WCRF would like parents to ensure that pupils get at least two portions of fruit and vegetables at lunchtime.

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