Public Health England (PHE)'s new Change4Life campaign urges parents to ‘Be Food Smart’ and take more control of their children’s diets. This comes after PHE figures revealed that children consume more than 11g – almost three sugar cubes – at breakfast time alone.

A survey conducted for the campaign found that parents are unsure what makes up a healthy breakfast for their children and by the end of the day many children have consumed more than three times the recommended daily sugar intake.

A new Be Food Smart app has been developed to highlight just how much sugar, saturated fat and salt can be found in everyday food and drink. The app works by scanning the barcode of products allowing parents to compare brands, and features food detective activities for children.

Dr Alison Tedstone, chief nutritionist at PHE, said: “It’s crucial for children to have a healthy breakfast, but we know the mornings in a busy household can be fraught. That’s why we’ve developed our Be Food Smart App, taking some of the pressure off parents and helping them to choose healthier food and drink options for their children.”