MANY consumers are still woefully ignorant of where their food comes from, and in some cases, what it actually is.

A new survey has uncovered the bizarre statistic that as many as 1.3 million UK adults believe that bacon is a product sourced from cattle, while one in 10 adults are under the impression that tofu is a type of mushroom, and a fifth think veal comes from deer.

The study, which used a sample of 2000 UK adults, also found a fifth were unaware of what fruits and veg are available during the different seasons, and a third don't know that classic baked beans are made with haricot beans.

With regard to food preparation, 22% of those surveyed were unable to put together a traditional Sunday roast, and a similar percentage said they would struggle to rustle up something as simple as a stir-fry.

The study also found that despite the popular belief that millennials are driving society towards more plant-based food, 20% of 18-34 year-olds believe vegans can consume eggs, and more than that think goat’s milk is appropriate for vegans.

Head chef Andre Dupin, of the 'meal kit' company HelloFresh, which commissioned the study, commented: “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.”