Oral health charity the British Dental Health Foundation (BDHF) believes that breakfast is becoming the unhealthiest meal of the day.

Despite expert advice that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, research group Which? has discovered that 12 out of 14 popular brands of cereal contain worryingly high levels of sugar. All of the cereals aimed at children, except Rise Krispies, were high in sugar, with the worst perpetrator being Kellogg's Frosties. Many people also misjudge the amount of sugar in some fruit juices, particularly those perceived as healthy – most notably pomegranate and pure apple juice.

Chocolate spread sales have now overtaken marmalade, with some analysts suggesting busy parents looking to satisfy fussy eaters as a possible reason behind the boom.

Around one in three children now start primary school with signs of tooth decay.

‘It would help enormously if parents could encourage children to move away from breakfast cereals loaded with sugars and introduce them to healthier alternatives such as porridge or boiled egg with wholemeal bread,’ said Dr Nigel Carter, Chief Executive of the BDHF.