A recent study of 2004 adults reveals that 1.3 million Brits believe that bacon comes from cows. We're going to assume that the same 1.3 million would also struggle to tie their own shoelaces.

According to the survey, one in ten adults are under the impression that tofu is a type of mushroom while a fifth mistakenly think veal comes from a deer – rather than a calf.

And although most British tea is shipped in from Asia, 11 per cent think it’s all grown in the UK.

A quarter can't identify where salami comes from, and a third don't know that classic baked beans are made with haricot beans.

The study also found that despite the popular belief that millennials are driving the movement towards more plant-based food, 20 per cent of 18-34 year-olds believe vegans can consume eggs.

And more than one fifth think goat’s milk is appropriate for vegans.

Baffled by avo on toast

The problems go beyond not knowing where food comes from or what it actually is. The survey also shows that worrying numbers of Brits would struggle to cook the most basic of dishes.

It emerged half of Brits would struggle to cook a millennial favourite like smashed avocado on toast as well as other common meals like lasagne or a basic curry.

And 22 per cent are unable to put together a traditional Sunday roast – with 10 per cent of those saying they’ve no intention of learning.

A fifth of adults would also struggle to rustle up the humble stir-fry and a fifth are also unaware of which fruits and veg are available during the different seasons.

Disturbing trend

Obviously, the line that 'Bacon comes from a cow' is good clickbait. To be perfectly honest, we're not sure that extrapolating the figure that 1.3 million Brits believe that bacon comes from a cow from a survey of just over 2000 people really holds water.

The survey was commissioned by or carried out by the meal kit company HelloFresh. Of course, the survey's findings suit HelloFresh but they still point to a worrying trend.

The gradual loss of practical food knowledge is genuinely disturbing.  

If people don't know where their food comes from; what it actually is or how to cook it then they become completely dependent on eating out, ready meals and takeaways.

This is a blog for an online restaurant booking service so we are not going to discourage anyone from eating out.

However, we do recognise that eating out for breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week is not sustainable.

And living off ready meals and takeaways is unlikely to lead to a healthy diet.

Learning to cook a few, simple dishes is a vital life skill.

HelloFresh head chef Andre Dupin said: 'It's surprising to see that some of the most popular foods, as well as things that Brits have always held dear to them, are difficult for people to cook from scratch and they struggle with knowing where it’s from or when it’s in season.

'Scratch cooking and getting hands on with ingredients at home is one of the best ways you can begin to understand origins of food.'

The main pic is from SWNS Digital.