The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is seeking feedback on a new nutrient-scoring system to help advertising regulators distinguish junk food from healthier options for children.

It allocates points to foods based on the level of bad elements (saturated fat, salt and sugar) and good ones (energy, fruit, vegetables, cereal and dairy-based products) per 100g.  Four or more points indicate junk foods, while healthy ones fall into zero or negative figures.

But the system has thrown up some anomalies. The Times found All Bran was scored as junk food with eight points, while McDonald’s McFlurry Crunchie, McChicken sandwich and Chicken McNuggets fell within the intermediate zone, scoring one to three points.

A FSA spokeswoman, however, defended the system pointing out that it had been designed to help advertising watchdog Ofcom decide which foods might be subject to restrictions.

An FSA spokeswoman said: “It assesses foods on the basis of a wide range of parameters and in so doing reveals that, in some cases, common perceptions about the healthiness of particular foods are not borne out when the overall nutritional composition is taken into account."

FSA examples of unhealthy foods included fried streaky bacon (18 points), economy burgers (12) takeaway hamburgers (7 points) and French fries (7).

Healthier options included stir-fried vegetables (-4), fresh pasta (-4) and pizza with a fish topping (-3).

The FSA has also launched a consultation on nutrient targets for processed foods in schools.

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