Low-fat lunchbox

Parents are giving their children too much fat, sugar and salt in their packed lunches, a food watchdog said today.

Research on behalf of the Food Standards Agency (FSA) found that the vast majority of meals that children bring from home contain crisps, chocolate and fizzy drinks.

Three out of four fail to meet basic nutritional standards, according to the survey published today. Almost half contain no fruit or vegetables.

The British Dietetic Association (BDA) analysed 688 packed lunches given to seven- to 14-year-olds in 28 schools across England.

They compared them with Department for Education guidelines for school meals.

The standards suggest meals should contain at least one portion of the following: fruit and vegetables; milk or other dairy items; meat or fish; and starchy food such as bread or rice.

Nutritionist Sam Church said: "Our survey findings revealed that children need to eat more bread, pasta, rice, fruit and veg and dairy foods."

The agency has incorporated these foods into a list of healthy lunch box suggestions.