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NHS sends 'cake culture' tweet - on day sugar crackdown is announced

Health officials have today published limits for the amount of sugar in biscuits, chocolate bars and cereals in a bid to make UK children more healthy.

But it seems that not everyone in the health service is on message.

The @NHS twitter account decided today would be a good day to ask its followers: “Anyone else have an office cake culture?” alongside pictures of an array of cakes, including lemon drizzle, and some chocolate biscuits. Though it is not clear how many people these are to be shared between.

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Public Health England want to reduce the amount of sugar that children consume through the everyday foods that contribute the most to intakes. It is challenging businesses to cut sugar by 20 per cent by 2020, and by 5 per cent this year.

It says the food industry should lower sugar levels, cut the sizes of their products or push healthier products. Food in nine different categories will have recommended sugar limits, including cakes, biscuits, chocolate and sweets, ice cream, puddings, yoghurts, breakfast goods and sweet spreads.

And this was approach highlighted by some who saw the @NHS tweet, who questioned whether it was really the right message to be sending out.

Ian D Wakefield: “If we’re going to be serious about reversing the obesity epidemic this culture needs to change! IMO.”

Jen Unwin added: “@NHS good in the short term but not so great in the long term? how about some #realfoodrocks?”

Some were happy to buy into the thread, but it seemed that it was their fellow health workers who were keenest with the cakes. Walsall Clinical Commissioning Group, another health service body, tweeted their own office’s spread of treats.

There were others who appreciate a cake at work culture. Sadie Constable tweeted: “oh so much so – we have cake club every Monday, bake sales, birthday cakes… any excuse!”

And obviously we’re not suggesting NHS workers can’t have their cake, or indeed eat it. But sometimes a little common sense doesn’t hurt.