Health chiefs want birthday cakes BANNED and replaced by veg snacks

NANNY-state health chiefs want to end the office tradition of taking cake to work for birthdays.

Instead they suggest celebrating with carrot, cucumber and celery sticks.

Health chiefs have urged managers to encourage staff to share healthy snacks on birthdays, rather than cakes

Public Health England wants Brits to share “healthier alternatives” with their colleagues.

This could also include a selection of fruit, such as apples, bananas or berries.

The measure is included in a new “toolkit for employers”, which tells managers how to help staff lead healthier lives.

The guidance says: “Begin a conversation about how special events (birthdays, holidays, anniversaries, promotions) are marked at work. Can ‘cake days’ be shared, or healthier alternatives be provided?”

It says unhealthy workers cost UK taxpayers £60billion a year.

Christopher Snowdon, of the Institute of Economic Affairs, said: “The clampdown on birthday cakes is another attempt by this meddlesome quango to suck the joy out of life. Sharing tasty treats on special occasions builds team spirit and boosts morale.”

Nancy Birtwhistle, the 2014 winner of TV’s Great British Bake Off said: “I’d struggle to make a Showstopper celebration from carrots, celery and a cucumber!

“I agree that we need to tackle obesity — especially in children — but it will be a sad state of affairs if we find ourselves prohibited from celebrating special occasions in the workplace.

Bake Off winner Nancy Birtwhistle says she'd 'struggle to make a Showstopper celebration from carrots, celery and a cucumber'

“Eating cake does not in itself cause obesity.

“Instead of employers banning it why not restrict the celebratory cake eating to lunchtime?

“Snacking between meals is what puts on weight.”

Officials also want bosses to tell fatties to attend weight loss programmes and fill vending machines with fruit, rather than chocolate and crisps.

They say firms should place bins, printers and water coolers at the far end of offices, so workers are forced to have a walk.

The report says bosses should “lead by example” by using the stairs rather than lifts and discourage the use of emails, so people plod around the office to speak to colleagues in person.

Around 66 per cent of men and 57 per cent of women are overweight or obese.

Holly Willoughby has an early birthday celebration on This Morning with a glass of fizz and a rainbow cake

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