ONE-fifth of Scots believe jam counts as a portion of fruit, says new research.
The statistic is thought to partially explain why Scots have the worst dental health in Britain and one in three primary pupils has bad teeth.
The study by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has led to calls for greater awareness among Scots of what constitutes a healthy choice.
Carina Norris, author of the You Are What You Eat books, said: "We need to make it easier for people make healthy choices."
FSA researchers said the findings imply some Scots are attempting to follow a better diet, believing the fruit in jam makes it healthy.
As jam contains as much as 66% sugar and as little as 19% fruit, the fact 21% of those surveyed believe it counts as fruit is a concern.
Dr Jacqui McElhiney of the FSA in Scotland said: "Clearly we still have work to do."
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