Cut down on the charity cake sales if you want to avoid cancer, say experts
THEY have been the mainstay of village fetes for decades, raising millions for good causes.
But cake sales for cancer charities should be limited, experts have warned, because obesity caused by too many sweet treats helps to cause cancer.
The Scottish Cancer Prevention Network (SCPN) says bake sales, while well-intentioned, can encourage people to flout healthy eating messages designed to keep more of us cancer-free.
One of the most popular cake-based fundraising activities, Macmillan’s World’s Biggest Coffee Morning, whose supporters include TV personality Carol Smillie, raised £2.2million in Scotland last year.
But cake is one of the foods blamed for the two-thirds of Scottish adults who are overweight, and obesity is linked to 11 types of cancer.
In its latest newsletter, the SCPN states: ‘It’s come to be a bit of a bugbear of the SCPN that so many fundraising activities, whilst done with honourable intentions, involve their contributors engaging in behaviours which may be at odds with those advised for cancer prevention, eg,
‘Other options, such as a walking challenge’
coffee mornings where sweet temptations abound, or tablet sales.’
Professor Annie Anderson, from SCPN, said ‘no one wants to think’ about the link between high-sugar foods and obesity. But the professor of public health nutrition at Dundee University added: ‘We see lots of fundraising for cancer charities involving cake sales, when 11 cancers are linked to obesity. It doesn’t make sense on one hand to say that excess sugar relates to obesity and then to do this.
‘There are plenty of other options, from healthy bake sales with home-made breads for example, to harvest sales and physical activities such as walking challenges or a take-the-stairs challenge.’
Large cancer charities encourage supporters to hold bake sales, providing cake labels, recipes, bunting and posters free of charge.
Many people choose to bake up a storm at home before selling off their cakes to grateful colleagues in the office as an afternoon treat, raising money for cancer research.
However, Professor Anderson said: ‘For many people the workplace is the primary site for their sugar intake. People bring in cakes to share with colleagues, which is often part of creating team spirit.
‘With bake sales in offices, staff will often say you do not have to eat these cakes etc, but there is often social pressure to join in.
‘Charities are starting to get this message and looking at what can be sold apart from cakes, to help people to engage in healthy behaviour. We should widen our horizons about ways to fundraise, because we all need to cut our intake of sugar and excess calories.’
Cancer charities have also urged caution on over-indulging, with the head of Cancer Research UK, Harpal Kumar, suggesting last year that doctors should scare people with the threat of cancer to get them to lose weight.
Types of cancer caused by obesity include breast, bowel and kidney.
Macmillan Cancer Support’s flagship World’s Biggest Coffee Morning began 25 years ago in a local church hall and today it continues to encourage people to get together with friends to enjoy a coffee and cake while providing a donation for the charity.
But a spokesman said the coffee morning is one of a range of events, including running activities.
He added: ‘The event is very much marketed as a special treat on one day of the year, and we are careful to provide healthy alternatives on our website.’
Victoria Steven, Cancer Research UK spokesman for Scotland, said: ‘We are extremely grateful for all the ways our supporters raise vital funds to help beat cancer sooner, which include taking part in a race or a quiz night.
‘Although a bake sale is one way that people might choose to fundraise for us, we do not encourage excess consumption of cakes, as we know that healthy eating and a balanced diet are important in reducing cancer risk.’