Millions of people admit to being unable to tell the difference between canned and fresh food, a study has found. Despite canned food sometimes taking a back seat to fresh, one in four admit they have regularly eaten canned food, mistakenly believing they were eating fresh items. And almost half say there are meals where they would struggle to tell the difference between fresh and canned ingredients. Soup is the canned food most likely to be mistaken for fresh, followed by tinned tomatoes, vegetables such as sweetcorn and fish like tuna and salmon. Custard, lentils and pulses and even whole meals such as Chilli con Carne from a can also leave people believing they are eating fresh ingredients. A spokesman for the Metal Packaging Manufacturers Association (MPMA), which commissioned the research, said: “Many people have a narrow perception of canned food, but it can be a great addition to any kitchen.