Children get one-fifth of calories from sweets and fizzy drinks, research finds

Safefood ambassador Derval O’Rourke with Saoirse Fitzsimons (11) from Dublin launch the Start campaign. Photo: Andres Poveda

Eoghan Moloney

A fifth of all calorie intake for children aged two to four years old is from foods like biscuits, chocolate, soft drinks and savoury snacks, new research has revealed.

This rises to 25pc for children of primary school-going age.