According to the Food Standards Agency (FSA), consumers are confused about what exactly a healthy and balanced diet contains.
The official food watchdog, who keep a beady eye on how consumers are being told to diet, say that the numerous weight-loss diets being heralded are the major reason behind the confusion.
According to the FSA, starchy food such as pasta, potatoes, bread and rice remain essential parts of eating healthily. Apparently, just 11 per cent of people knew that eating starchy foods was important, from a survey group of over 2,000.
The FSA pointed out that a balanced diet included one-third fruit and vegetables, one-third bread, rice and pasta, 15 per cent dairy foods, 12 per cent protein sources and less than 8 per cent high fat or sugary foods.