From pot noodles to biscuits: The junk food promoted by NHS 'healthy eating' app

An NHS healthy eating app promotes ultra-processed junk food and describes biscuits, cakes and crisps as a 'good choice', an investigation has found.

Obesity campaigners last night described the revelation as 'astonishing' and demanded an urgent review of the NHS Food Scanner.

The free app, which has been downloaded more than half a million times, regularly recommends users buy ultra-processed products and even endorses instant noodles and an energy drink, the Soil Association discovered.

Ultra-processed food is made using ingredients or processes not found in a typical kitchen and has been linked to cancer, heart disease, depression and early death.

Products endorsed or recommended by the app include biscuits, cakes, crisps, chocolate puddings, fizzy pop, energy drinks and instant noodles

British children have the highest levels of ultra-processed food intake in Europe, with under 14s getting two-thirds of their daily energy intake from this source.

The Government has encouraged parents to download the app to their mobile phone so they can make healthier decisions when food shopping.