Survey reveals that Britons are opting for healthier foods

Britons are increasingly ditching unhealthy foods in favour of more nutritious options, according to two new surveys.

The Food Standards Agency's Consumer Attitudes to Food report shows that people are increasingly choosing fruit and vegetables over ready meals.

It also found that more are making meals from raw ingredients and checking food labels for sugar, fat and salt content.

At the same time, declining sales in crisps, chocolates and fizzy drinks have been highlighted in a recent barcode survey of 83,000 shops by market research firm AC Neilson.

Contract caterer Compass confirmed students in higher and further education were calling for healthier meals at affordable prices.

It added that its business and industry clients now rated health second only to taste, and above price and quality for meals.

But rival Sodexho's experience is that healthy meals are more important to workers in the private sector than those in the public sector.

While its clients valued healthy breakfasts and lunches, they were less concerned about healthy snacks and dinners.

By Angela Frewin

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