A child poverty expert has told reporters how she 'gulped' out loud upon hearing that a mum was so ill-equipped to cook for her baby that she puréed cheeseburgers from a fast food restaurant.
Michelle Kennedy, who chairs the Members of Torbay Child Poverty Commission in Devon, also revealed that another local woman was given a carrot and admitted she had no idea what it was. The women had sought help to up their cooking skills for the sake of their children.
Experts claim these scenarios are happening all over the country because a generation of mums and dads with little or no skills passed down from their own parents are bringing up their children on a diet of fast food.
The commission says that many parents claim they cannot afford to buy items like fruit and vegetables, but the Mail reports family support groups as saying 'the truth is far too many cannot cook at all' and parents avoid going to classes for fear of being judged.
The Child Poverty Commission also reports that significant numbers of youngsters arrive at primary school not toilet trained and unable to use a knife and fork.
More on Parentdish: Why it's time to get all our children cooking at school