Many consumers are unsure about the importance of the various food groups and about how much of each they should eat on a daily basis, research has found.
A study by the Food Standards Agency found that, while advice about eating plenty of fruit and vegetables has reached the attention of 73 per cent of people, just 45 per cent are aware that tinned products can count towards the recommended 'five a day' target.
A handful more - 53 per cent - acknowledged that frozen fruit and vegetables can count, but nearly a fifth were under the impression that eating extra fruit and vegetables could 'outweigh' eating fatty, sugary products.
In addition, only 11 per cent realised that it is important to eat starchy foods, suggesting that many people are not getting the nutrients required to maintain a healthy body.
FSA head of nutrition Rosemary Hignett said that healthy eating is "not a ten-minute fad".
"It's a diet for life that we know will help reduce the number of diet-related illnesses such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and some cancers," she explained.
Many consumers do not obtain the necessary nutrients from their diet, but can prevent vitamin and mineral deficiencies by taking multivitamin supplements.
Many consumers are unsure about the importance of the various food groups and about how much of each they should eat on a daily basis, research has found.
