'Secret mum' exposes lack of healthy food options at Britain’s top tourist attractions

Britain’s top family tourist attractions offer a “depressing” lack of healthy food and drink choices, according to a report by the Soil Association.

The organic food advocates ranked attractions from one to 25 in terms of the healthiness of food on offer.

Only four of the 14 attractioms scored more than 10, with eight of them scoring less than five points.

Camelot Theme Park in Chorley, Lancashire and New Metroland in Gateshead, Tyne & Wear both scored just one point.

To compile the survey, the Soil Association sent out a "secret mum" to find fresh fruit and vegetables at the attractions. But at Camelot and New Metroland they were unable to find a single piece.

Peter Melchett, the Soil Association’s policy director, said: “No one wants to be a spoilsport, but it is the lack of choice of food and drink at most of these attractions that is so depressingly behind the times.  Not to provide kids with the option of free water on a day out is scandalous.”

However, John Hunter, marketing officer for New Metroland, said: “The New Metroland is a traditional fairground attraction that offers food you would find in a typical fun-fair. Although we offer the customary fun-fair style food, we also offer healthy options such as jacket potatoes, salads and sandwiches.”

Food service consultant Chris Stern said: “The sad fact of the matter is people want burger’s and chips. It’s very frustrating but these companies can’t be expected to put on fresh fruit just to be PC.”

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By Tom Vaughan