Young children are especially vulnerable to the long-term effects of poor diet and nutrition, say the Soil Association as they launch their campaign to better the food served to children.

Government research has found that almost one in four children are overweight or obese by the time they start school, meaning they are more likely to develop serious health problems later in life.

Whilst school food standards are being improved following pioneering campaign work by the Soil Association and Jamie Oliver's School Dinners campaign, school dinner ladies and others which led to minimum standards for school meals, pre-school food has been left behind. The Soil Association claim this is for the following reasons:

- The Government sets no clear standards for nutrition or training for staff serving nursery food
- No Government department or agency promotes good practice or monitors the quality of food provided
- The Government has failed to make funding available to help nurseries improve food provision.

Together with parents, carers, nurseries and MPs, the Soil Association and Organix Foundation have teamed up to campaign for better nursery food now.

If you'd like to sign the Soil Association's petition, visit the link below.