02/02/2010
Eggs come from sheep, crisps are made of plastic and butterflies produce cheese - these are just some of the wrong answers given by children in a test of their knowledge of food sources, it was revealed.
The survey of more than 1,000 school children showed that nearly two thirds struggled to identify the origins of the everyday foods they eat.
Some thought beef burgers came from McDonalds or Burger King, that yoghurts were made using turkeys or ducks, ham came from the Co-Op, bacon from horses, goats or peacocks and cheese originated from butterflies, rats or mice.
Less than one in four knew that beef burgers are sourced from cows, with 29% saying beef burgers came from pigs.
More than 1,100 youngsters from Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset, between the ages of six and eight, were questioned for the research commissioned by rural insurance firm Cornish Mutual.
The survey was used to determine their level of awareness and knowledge of vegetables, dairy products and meat produce and to see if they were able to recognise how they are sourced.
Other bizarre responses from pupils included children believing rabbits, plastic or sheep were the main ingredient of crisps (two thirds correctly identified potatoes).
Some thought ice cream was made with cheese, air, fish or potatoes (43% correctly said milk or cream).
But children's overall level of recognition of vegetables was high, ranging from 98% for carrots and sweetcorn to a low of 44% for swede/turnip.
Levels of animal recognition were even higher, with all pupils correctly identifying cows, 99% for pigs, 98% for chickens and 97% for sheep.
http://news.uk.msn.com/odd-news/articles.aspx?cp-documentid=151988117
(Submitted by Corinna Downes)
Wednesday, 3 February 2010
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I don't believe a word of it. Obviously a percentage of the children involved were deliberately giving silly answers.
ReplyDeleteAt school i was taught nothing what so ever about the natural world. All the biology wedid was human biology, talk about human narcisism1
ReplyDeleteAt university the lectuers made errors that wouls shame a schoolboy and used books 30 years out of date.
All the usefull stuff i have learned about animals i taught myself.
Unlike GLW, I can well believe the survey. The only thing that surprises me are the figures for the kids that accurately identified the animals and vegetables.
ReplyDeleteI have been a scout leader and youth worker and seen first hand when in the countryside, hiking and camping with groups of kids, just how ignorant the children are of animals and plants.