Captain Ford converted all four tries as the game in Calvisano to extend England's winning run at this level to 15 internationals since the summer of 2007.
Replacement hooker Koree Britton and flanker Billy Vunipola touched down in the last 10 minutes to secure victory after first-half scores from scrum-half Dan Robson and back-rower Sam Northcote-Green.
"Credit to Italy, they stuck at it, tackled hard and made us work hard at the breakdown," said head coach John Fletcher.
"But overall I'm very pleased because you have to learn by playing in difficult environments against sides who use different tactics. We kept playing the way we wanted to and kept on pressing, then took two chances towards the end."
England are next in action on March 28 when they travel to Swansea to face Wales Under-18s.
England U18: Ben Ransom (Tonbridge & Saracens); Chris Elder (RGS High Wycombe & London Wasps), Jamie Elliott (Bedford & Northampton Saints), Tommy Bell (Bacup and Rawtenstall GS & Sale Sharks), Mark Jennings (Lymm HS & Sale Sharks); George Ford (Rishworth & Leicester Tigers, captain), Dan Robson (Hartpury Coll & Gloucester Rugby); Nick Auterac (Oaklands College & Saracens), Nathan Moris (Sedbergh & Newcastle Falcons), Kyle Sinckler (Epsom Coll & Harlequins), George Merrick (Whitgift & Harlequins), Dominic Barrow (Prince Henry's GS Otley & Leeds Carnegie), Billy Vunipola (Harrow & London Wasps), Sam Northcote-Green (Dulwich Coll & London Wasps), Matt Kvesic (Worcester Sixth Form Coll & Worcester Warriors).
Replacements: Koree Britton (Ivybridge Coll & Exeter Chiefs) for Moris 48, Anthony Brennan (Twyford CofE & London Wasps) for Sinckler 36, Will Skuse (Bryanston & Bath Rugby) for Northcote-Green 48, Will Spencer (St Paul's Catholic & London Irish) for Merrick 65, Charlie Gordon (Wellington College and London Wasps) for Robson 57, Ryan Mills (Hartpury Coll & Gloucester) for Bell 50, Elliot Daly (Whitgift & London Wasps) for Elder 52.
