Home cooks may want to consider using more carrot in their recipes as it is one of the foods that makes people more attractive, or so scientists claim.

Researchers from St Andrews and Bristol universities found that foods with high pigmentation - which also include the likes of plums - make individuals appear healthier and more attractive.

The discovery was made after 40 volunteers ranked 51 people in terms of how attractive and healthy they seemed, the Grocer reports.

In light of the findings, one of the scientists involved in the study Ian Stephen said: "What we can do is say, 'This is what you could look in a couple of months if you increased your fruit and veg intake'."

This follows the news that the organic food industry is to undergo a massive marketing drive over the next three years to encourage people to buy its produce.