UK’s biggest food myths revealed, as a third think the ‘five second rule’ is legitimate

• Nearly half believe supermarket products marked ‘Made in Britian’ must be made with UK produce
• One in 20 even believes spicy foods can ‘put hairs on your chest’
• Almost three-quarters think food myths are common in British society, saying misconceptions have been passed down from generation to generation

A list of the most common food myths believed by Brits has been released.

It shows that misconceptions about food are plentiful with huge numbers still trusting in debunked sayings they were told as children.

In fact, the poll carried out by British Lion eggs found a third (33 per cent) of the nation think that the ‘five second rule’ is legitimate, while over a quarter (28 per cent) think eating cheese before bed can cause bad dreams.

Similarly, vitamin A, essential for eye health, is plentiful in carrots, yet eating them won't directly improve vision, something 36 per cent believe.

A large majority (80 per cent) think that different parts of the tongue have receptors for different tastes – a belief that may stem from the ‘tongue map’, a discredited concept taught in UK schools in the mid-20^th century.

Incredibly, more than one in 20 (6 per cent) of the nation even reckon that eating spicy foods will ‘put hairs on your chest’.

But the British Lion eggs research shows it’s not just old wives’ tales that are causing confusion, with a lack of transparency also creating an issue.

More people (43 per cent) believe the myth that food products marked ‘Made in Britain’ will only use British produce, than who know that not to be the case (29 per cent).

While products labelled as ‘Made in Britain’ may predominantly use British produce, there are many exceptions.

In the case of a lunchtime staple, a pre-packaged egg and cress sandwich, a third thought the egg would need to be from the United Kingdom if the product were marked as ‘Made in the UK’.

In fact, there is no requirement that all the ingredients used in foods labelled as ‘Made in the UK’ will be British; the product will be compiled in the UK, but the ingredients don't necessarily have to be from the UK.

Even in the case of one of the nation’s favourite snacks, one in five (17 per cent) believe the egg in a Scotch Egg will be from the United Kingdom.

In reality, there is no requirement for products containing eggs to display their provenance, so it is not guaranteed that the eggs used will be British, unless the product features the British Lion eggs logo, which will provide assurance the eggs used are from the UK.

Gary Ford, from British Lion eggs said: “There’s a whole lot of confusion out there and while it might be funny to think that many of these old wives’ tales are still believed today, the research is also showing that a lack of transparency and education around where our food comes from is playing a part.

“Given a pre-made quiche or a simple sandwich labelled as ‘made in Britain’ could well be made with imported eggs, it’s understandable there’s so much confusion.

“In the case of eggs and products with egg in, like sandwiches and quiches, the only way to know they are made with British eggs that have world-leading safety standards, is to look for the British Lion mark.”

When asked which logo would guarantee a product containing egg would use UK eggs, more than two-thirds (69 per cent) correctly identified the British Lion eggs mark.

However, over a quarter (27 per cent) wrongly believe seeing a Union Jack would be enough to guarantee provenance.

Most Brits (71 per cent) agree that food myths and misconceptions are common in British society, with three-quarters (77 per cent) of those saying the reason is because they are passed down from generation to generation.

A third (34 per cent) think it’s because we’re generally susceptible to marketing claims and a similar number (32 per cent) think it is due to old advertising campaigns sticking in our memories.

British Lion is urging shoppers to think about where the eggs in products that contain them come from.

With imported eggs not produced to the same standards, British Lion eggs is calling on British supermarkets to use British eggs in British made food – sign the petition here: https://www.change.org/britisheggsforbritishfood

MOST COMMONLY BELIEVED FOOD MYTHS

Myth	% Brits Believe	Reasoning
Different parts of the tongue have receptors for different tastes	80%	Taste receptors for various flavours are distributed across the entire tongue, rather than being localised to specific regions.
Sugar can make people, particularly children, hyperactive	79%	While sugar may temporarily increase energy levels, scientific studies have not found a direct link between sugar consumption and hyperactivity in children.
Eight glasses of water a day is a good target to aim for	78%	The amount of water needed varies from person to person based on factors like activity level, climate, and overall health.
Supermarket products that are ‘Made in Britain’ will only use British produce	43%	While products labelled as "Made in Britain" may predominantly use British produce, there could be exceptions or variations in ingredients.
Chocolate is an aphrodisiac	39%	While chocolate contains certain chemicals that can induce feelings of pleasure, there's limited scientific evidence to support the idea that it functions as a true aphrodisiac.
Eating celery uses more calories than you take in	38%	While celery is low in calories and requires energy to chew and digest, the amount of calories burned is negligible compared to its calorie content.
Eating carrots can improve your vision	36%	While carrots are rich in vitamin A, essential for eye health, eating them won't directly improve vision beyond meeting the body's nutritional needs.
The five second rule is legitimate	33%	Bacteria can contaminate food within milliseconds of contact with a contaminated surface, so the five-second rule isn't effective in preventing contamination.
Hot curry can help you get rid of a cold	33%	While some people believe spicy foods can alleviate cold symptoms temporarily by clearing nasal passages, they don't cure the cold itself.
An apple a day keeps the doctor away	32%	While apples are nutritious and contribute to overall health, they can't prevent all illnesses or health issues on their own.
You cannot reheat rice	31%	While improperly reheated rice can lead to food poisoning, reheating rice thoroughly until it's piping hot can kill any bacteria present.
Eating cheese before bed can give you bad dreams	28%	There's no scientific evidence linking cheese consumption before bed to nightmares.
Freezing food will kill bacteria	28%	Freezing can slow down the growth of bacteria, but it won't necessarily kill them. Proper cooking and handling are still essential for food safety.
There is a nutritional difference between white and brown eggs	23%	The colour of the eggshell doesn't affect its nutritional value; the nutritional content is primarily determined by the hen's diet.
Spinach will make your muscles bigger	20%	Spinach is nutritious and provides various vitamins and minerals, but it won't directly increase muscle size.
Scotch eggs sold at supermarkets will be made with British eggs	17%	There is no requirement for products containing eggs sold at supermarkets to display their provenance and so it is not guaranteed that the eggs used will be British. Many eggs used as ingredients are imported.
Eating bread crusts will make your hair go curly	7%	There's no scientific basis for this claim; hair texture is determined by genetics.
Spicy food will put hairs on your chest	6%	Eating spicy food doesn't affect hair growth on the chest or anywhere else on the body.