Children′s Perceptions of Sweets in Their Food Culture: Comparisons between England and Germany Available to Purchase

A survey of 259 primary school children in England and Germany of varying social background was performed to assess the children′s attitudes to sweet consumption and particularly to their perception (how they make sense of information they receive) of sweets in their food culture. There were highly significant differences in the children′s attitudes to sweet consumption between the two cultures with more children in Germany saying we should eat more (30 per cent) compared with those in England (7 per cent). Children′s perceptions of sweets also differed significantly between cultures. These differences in attitude and perception of sweets, particularly chocolate, between the two cultures imply differences in educational and other influences on the children in their early (primary) years.