British workers only take an average of 28 minutes for lunch, according to a survey by Compass Group business and industry division Eurest.
The Eurest Lunchtime Report 2006, which spoke to 2,000 people, found that one in five workers never takes a break, or eats at their desk. The main reason given is that they are too busy (44%).

It found that more men (two-thirds) than women (50%) take a lunch-break every day.

The most popular venues for lunch among the employees who eat lunch are: the staff restaurant (16%), followed by local sandwich shops and cafés (13%). Half of the workers questioned had no staff canteen.

The study also found that average lunchtime spend is down to £1.94 from £2.02, although there is increased awareness among staff of healthy food, with seven out of 10 workers saying they are more concerned about healthy eating than two years ago.