Free fruit for kids at Tesco Extra stores

The initiative, which is being launched in more than 800 Tesco Extra and Superstores across the UK, is aimed at creating healthy eating habits and help children with their recommended five-a-day.

The Tesco Extra stores on Drummond Street, Rotherham and on Biscay Way, Wath, are offering free fruit including apples, soft citrus and bananas, for parents to take to give to their children.

The Government recommends that children and adults eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables every day. 

But research has shown that only ten per cent of boys and seven per cent of girls between the ages of 11 and 18 meet the five-a-day recommendation. 

On average children in England eat only about three portions, with many eating fewer.

The move comes after Maria Simpson, a Tesco checkout colleague from a store in Lincolnshire, suggested giving free fruit to parents for their children to eat during shopping trips as an alternative to sweets. 

The idea was taken up by the store and was so well received by customers that Tesco decided to trial the initiative in Scotland to see how it might work on a bigger scale.

Matt Davies, Tesco CEO for UK and ROI said: “We’re Britain’s biggest greengrocer, so we want to make it easier for parents to get their children eating more healthily.

“As a Dad, I know it can be tricky getting children to eat their fruit and vegetables, so we’re hoping this initiative will help create healthy eating habits that will stay with children as they grow up.”

The initiative, which is up and running, has been welcomed by health experts and charities and Tesco said it was set to run indefinitely.