Charities warn over poor diet of young

Large numbers of British children could suffer malnutrition in the next century unless urgent action is taken, according to food experts.

Two major reports published today say that families living in deprived areas without access to supermarkets and little money are unable to give their children an adequate diet.

The reports have been conducted by Save The Children which is best known for its famine relief work overseas, and the National Food Alliance which represents national public interest organisations.

Save The Children interviewed mothers in London, Glasgow, Coventry, Sunderland and Belfast. It found that they understood the need to eat more fruit and vegetables.They were also resourceful shoppers and were willing to go into debt or miss meals themselves to prevent their children from going hungry. But they had restricted access to cheap food, being forced to use expensive local shops.

The survey's results were backed up by a report by the National Food Alliance attacking "the main misconceptions about eating healthily on a low income".

The report found that Between 13 and 14 million people live in households where the income is below 50 per cent of the UK average - less than about pounds 120 a week. Many of these families eat as little as 95g of fresh green vegetables each week, equivalent to barely one brussels sprout per person per day.

Poor households consume almost twice the amount of full-fat milk as the well-off, and more than double the amount of white bread.

In 1995, a study of the costs of a modest but nutritionally-adequate diet to meet the needs of women, especially when pregnant, found their diet cost an average of pounds 18.12 and could cost as much as pounds 23 a week if there was no supermarket nearby - representing up to 60 per cent of the whole benefit payment for women aged 18-25.

"Cheapest calories come from foods generally considered unhealthy," continues the report. "To get all the calories needed in a day when spending the least money the best bet is to go for a high-fat sugary diet - biscuits, sweet tea, white bread with hard marge."

The idea that low-income families would spend any extra money on "fags and the lottery" is also a myth. Given pounds 10 extra a week 46 per cent of low-income families say they would spend it on food.

The groups called on the Government to implement a national strategy on food and low income, and carry out a comprehensive assessment of social security benefits. They also called for free school milk to be reinstated.

t "Out of the Frying Pan: The True Costs of Feeding a Family on a Low Income" is available from Save The Children Publications, 0171 703 5400. No charge, but the charity welcomes donations.

t " 'If they don't eat a healthy diet it's their own fault' - Myths about Food and Low Income" is available from the NFA, 5-11 Worship St, London EC2A 2BH priced pounds 20

A basket full of healthy food

This is the weekly shopping basket that would provide a realistic and nutritionally- adequate diet for an 11- to 14-year-old boy - who requires 2,220 calories per day

Packet of cornflakes/weetabix; one loaf brown bread; one loaf, wholemeal; 1 pkt crisps; 385g tin of baked beans; 3 yoghurts; spaghetti; 100g tin of tuna; three 200g tins of tinned tomatoes; 3 onions; 4 oranges; 4 pears; 5 apples [one for baking]; 3 bananas; 1 small pack of peanuts; tin of pilchards; 350g [12oz] of potatoes; 60g [2oz] carrots; 90g [3oz] cauliflower; 65gm [2oz] peas; 60gm [2oz] carrots; 180gm [6oz] chips; 60gm [2oz] sweetcorn; coleslaw 56g [1oz]; lettuce; cucumber; 4 tomatoes; 90g [3oz] cabbage; 140g [4.8oz] broccoli; 2 large jacket potatoes; 250g [ 8oz] of chicken; 76gm [2.5oz] corned beef; 70gm [2 oz] ham; cod in crumbs 120gm; minced beef; 2 fishfingers; 2 rashers bacon; gravy; tomato soup; vegetable soup; Edam cheese; 4 eggs; 1 tin kidney beans; 1 chocolate mousse; 120g tinned peaches; custard; 6 semisweet biscuits; rice pudding; 1 Mars bar; trifle; 1 tin of pineapple; raisins; 2 currant buns; teacake; 2 pieces of fruit cake.

Total cost: pounds 18.12

Source: Poor Expectations 1996 by the Maternity Alliance