A new report published by The Food Foundation reveals that over a third of the meat eaten by children is processed – despite known health risks. In this blog, I break down what counts as processed meat, the health impacts, and how to help your little ones enjoy a balanced, healthy diet with plenty of variety.
What is processed meat?
- It can be confusing to know what’s classed as “processed.” The Food Foundation defines processed meat as meat preserved by smoking, curing, salting, or adding preservatives (such as nitrites and nitrates – more information here). Processed meat includes sausages, bacon, ham, deli meats (such as salami and pepperoni), canned meat (such as corned beef), sliced luncheon meats (including those made from chicken and turkey) and pâtés. White processed meat products such as chicken nuggets with high levels of added salt and preservatives also count.
- Many processed meats are also considered ultra-processed foods (UPFs). These are foods that tend to be higher in additives, salt, and saturated fat. If you want to learn more about what counts as ultra-processed, you can check out my blog around processed foods here.
*Shop-bought chicken nuggets are often made from reconstituted chicken meat and may contain various preservatives, meaning they fall under the processed meat category. Homemade chicken nuggets, on the other hand, are not typically considered processed meat, particularly when made from whole cuts of chicken and without the use of preservatives or processing methods like curing or smoking.
What does the latest research say?
The new report, Meat Facts: What Meat is the UK Eating and Why Does It Matter? shares some key findings on children’s intake of meat:
- The UK eats twice as much meat as the global average.
- Over a third (36%) of the meat children eat is processed.
- 9% of meat eaten by children under 18 comes from pizza.
- A third of all meat imported into the UK is processed.
- Over a third of processed meat is eaten outside the home (e.g. schools, restaurants, fast food outlets)
The authors recommend that schools reduce or remove processed meat options and focus on healthier protein choices.
What are the different types of meat?
Meat can be classified as white, red or processed.
- Red meat: Beef, lamb, mutton, pork, goat and venison.
- White meat: Chicken, turkey, duck and goose.
- Processed meat: Ham, bacon and sausages, canned meats (such as corned beef), deli meats such as salami and pepperoni, sliced luncheon meats (such as chicken and turkey slices), pâtés, as well as white processed meat like shop-bought chicken nuggets.
This breakdown helps to understand where different products fall in terms of their health and also environmental impacts.
Why does processed meat matter?
Processed meats tend to be high in saturated fat and salt. While fat is an essential and important nutrient for children, it’s good to include a variety of healthier fats, like those found in olive oil, avocado, seeds and nuts. Read more about the different types of fats for children on my blog which goes into more detail.
Salt is another important consideration. High salt intake in adults is linked to raised blood pressure, so it makes sense to avoid encouraging a preference for salty foods early in life. Children have lower recommended daily salt limits than adults. Here’s a breakdown of the NHS guidelines:
To put this into context, here’s some examples of salt in everyday processed meats*:
- 2 rashers of streaky bacon (40g) – 1.3g
- 1 sausage (50g) – 0.6g
- 2 slices of ham (40g) – 0.8g
- 2-3 slices luncheon chicken (40g) – 0.6g
- 5 mini cocktail sausages (40g) – 0.6g
- 3 chicken nuggets (50g) – 0.5g
- 5 slices of salami (25g) – 1.0g
(*values obtained from Nutritics, 2025)
Read more about salt levels in children’s food and tips for reducing salt intakes for the whole family in my blog on salt.
In addition, the World Health Organisation has classified processed meat as carcinogenic, meaning it’s linked with an increased risk of certain cancers including bowel cancer in adults. There’s also strong evidence that high intakes of processed meat are associated with a greater risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes. More details can be found within the Meat Facts Report (Pages 23, 24).
What about the benefits of meat?
Meat – including white meats like chicken and turkey, and red meats like beef, pork, and lamb – can provide important nutrients for children, including:
- Protein
- Iron
- Zinc
- Vitamin B12
According to the NHS, meat can be part of a healthy, balanced diet, but high intakes – especially of red and processed meats – should be avoided due to health concerns in adulthood including heart disease and cancer.
Currently, there are no specific UK guidelines on total meat intake for children. However, the Eatwell Guide – which children over the age of two are encouraged to gradually follow alongside the rest of the family – recommends that around 12% of the diet should come from protein-rich foods, such as beans, pulses, fish, eggs and meat. The Eatwell Guide’s protein-rich food group was last updated in 2016 and is now titled “beans, pulses, fish, eggs, meat and other proteins.” Previously, it was called “meat, fish, eggs, beans and other non-dairy sources of protein.” This change was made to reflect current dietary guidance, encouraging people to reduce their meat intake and choose healthier, more sustainable protein sources like beans and pulses.
Should my child eat processed meat?
Whilst the NHS acknowledge that meat is a good source of many nutrients, they encourage us to eat less of both red and processed meat. The NHS state that eating too much processed meat and red meat ‘probably increases your risk of bowel cancer’. They acknowledge that some meats are high in saturated fat, which can lead to high cholesterol levels and increase the risk of heart disease in adults. The NHS reiterate that specifically processed meat can also be high in salt, which as previously mentioned, should be limited.
See the NHS recommendations for meat and processed meat here.
Within the British Dietetic Associations ‘healthy eating for children’ recommendations, they recommend reducing processed salty foods like processed meats. They highlight that ‘avoidance of processed meat should not compromise intakes or status of key nutrients’ and that cutting back can help reduce salt and saturated fat. In simpler terms, this means that if children avoid processed meats, it’s not a problem from a nutritional point of view.
So, especially for young children, it’s best to keep processed meats as an occasional food rather than a regular one, and include plenty of variety from other protein sources.
What about veggie alternatives?
The new report doesn’t cover vegetarian alternatives like plant-based sausages or meat-alternative nuggets. While these can be convenient, sometimes (especially for those on a vegetarian diet), many are also classed as ultra-processed and may be high in salt. Look out for lower-salt varieties by reading the label (there can be a huge difference between products) and try to include a variety of whole food protein sources like:
- Beans and lentils
- Tofu
- Nut butters and seeds
Practical tips for families
Here are some simple ideas to help reduce processed meats and offer more variety at mealtimes:
- Offer a variety of protein sources – Include a range of foods like lentils, beans, fish, tofu, eggs, poultry, and meat from whole cuts regularly.
- Try freezer-friendly homemade swaps – Instead of reaching for processed meats like chicken nuggets or sausages, try easy homemade alternatives. My cauliflower ‘chicken’ nuggets are a great example – they’re veggie-packed, simple to make and brilliant to batch cook and freeze.
- Swap deli meats in lunches – Instead of often using ham in sandwiches, try things like cream cheese and salad, hummus and cucumber, sliced egg and tomato, tuna and sweetcorn, smashed avocados and nut butters. Even switching it up a couple of times a week helps reduce processed meat intake. Here’s my blog on healthy packed lunches for children for more ideas.
- Get creative with pizza alternatives – Try my recipes for easy pizza or my pizza wraps which use alternative toppings to processed meats.
- Small steps add up – Remember, it’s not about being perfect! Cutting down even a little can have benefits – and every small change helps create healthier habits over time.
Final thoughts
Processed meats – like ham, sausages, nuggets and deli slices – can easily become a regular part of children’s diets, especially when they’re convenient and familiar. However, the research highlights that cutting back where we can is a smart step for our little ones’ long-term health.
The good news? Small, simple changes really do make a difference. Swapping in a variety of protein sources – such as lentils, beans, tofu and fish – mixing up lunchbox staples, and trying easy homemade alternatives are all great steps. It’s not about cutting out foods completely or being perfect – it’s about creating variety, supporting healthy habits, and helping our little ones enjoy a balanced, nourishing diet now and in the future.
References used for this article:
Healthy Eating for Children. The British Dietetic Association (2021). Available at: https://www.bda.uk.com/resource/healthy-eating-for-children.html#:~:text=Children%20do%20not%20need%20salt,ready%20meals%20and%20processed%20meats. (Accessed 02/06/2025).
Meat Facts: What Meat is the UK Eating? The Food Foundation (2025). Available at: https://foodfoundation.org.uk/sites/default/files/2025-05/TFF_Meat%20Facts.pdf (Accessed 02/06/2025).
The Eatwell Guide (2022). NHS. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/food-guidelines-and-food-labels/the-eatwell-guide/ (Accessed 06/06/2025).
Meat in Your Diet (2024). NHS. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/food-types/meat-nutrition/#:~:text=Processed%20meat%20is%20any%20meat,deli%20meats%20such%20as%20salami (Accessed 02/06/2025).
Red and Processed Meat. Royal Marsden NHS. Available at: https://www.royalmarsden.nhs.uk/oafu/diet/red-processed-meat (Accessed 02/06/2025).
Cancer: Carcinogenicity of the consumption of red meat and processed meat. World Health Organisation. Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/cancer-carcinogenicity-of-the-consumption-of-red-meat-and-processed-meat (Accessed 02/06/2025).