Dental hygienist welcomes recommendations to ban ‘cake culture’ in workplaces
A dental hygienist has welcomed recommendations from the Food Standards Agency (FSA) to ban ‘cake culture’ in workplaces.
Professor Susan Jebb, chair of the FSA, provoked widespread debate after suggesting that cakes that should be banned from workplaces and likening the practice of bringing sweet treats to work to passive smoking. She suggested that colleagues should be creating a “supportive environment” by cutting out junk food and eliminating the temptation of cakes and other sweet foods like biscuits and chocolates.
Hygienist, Tim Ives, who has spent a lot of time researching attitudes to limiting sugar consumption within the profession, welcomed the advice, explaining that rates of dental health issues are “getting worse with the amount of sugar consumption spiralling out of control.” In a recent survey, Mr Ives found that none of the 167 participants from a dental hygiene and therapy forum had sugar-free practices. He labelled the results “alarming” and urged dental professionals to lead by example.
The most recent data shows that over a quarter of UK adults have signs of untreated tooth decay on at least two teeth and over 22% of 5-year-olds have decayed or missing teeth.
In her piece in The Times, Prof Jebb also criticised delays in restricting junk food advertising on TV and called for GPs to do more to highlight weight issues and talk to patients about their diet.
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