Research released today has shown that the people of the South West of England are confused about cucumbers, with 81% of the respondents incorrectly thinking that the cucumber is a vegetable, when it is a fruit. Other food knowledge blunders included 1% of the region not knowing that the humble rasher of bacon comes from a pig. However, when it came to the tomato, 87% knew that it was a fruit and not a vegetable.
The survey results highlighted that London was the least knowledgeable area compared to other parts of the UK. The North East and South West, however, were the most well-informed when it came to knowing where their food came from.
The research was commissioned to mark the start of Red Tractor Week (15th – 21st September): Red Tractor is the largest food assurance scheme in the UK. It ensures the food you buy is traceable, safe to eat and has been produced responsibly – from farms to fork!
When 8-11 year olds and 25-34 year olds across Britain were asked the same question about chicken, the results showed that 99% of the children knew that chicken was an animal compared to only 95% of the adults asked. This result contradicts previous perceptions thought about children’s food knowledge and suggests that children know more about where their food comes from than adults.
When it comes to buying the weekly groceries, 8 out of 10 people in the South West felt that it was important to support British producers and 82% would actually buy their food because it is grown in the UK.
Visit www.redtractor.org.uk for more information and examples of why you can Trust the Tractor. You can also follow the activity online at Red Tractor’s Facebook page and via the Twitter feed (@RedTractorFood and #RTW2014) or just simply look out for the Red Tractor logo.