Jamie Oliver Says He's Not Against School Bake Sales
British food personality and healthy-eating advocate Jamie Oliver, who has campaigned to overhaul school lunches in the U.K. and the U.S. and even imposed a "soda tax" on his restaurant customers, is now embroiled in another controversy: over the time-honored tradition of the school bake sale.
His eponymous Jamie Oliver Food Foundation, which runs food education campaigns, recently produced a 98-page "Report on the Food Education Learning Landscape" in conjunction with Sheffield University, and one particular finding has drawn the majority of the attention: The report recommends against school bake sales, saying they give children the wrong idea about healthy eating.
The report found that 86 percent of secondary school teachers and 85 percent of primary schoolteachers in the U.K. used bake sales as fundraisers, while six out of 10 teachers said desserts were eaten during class celebrations.
"The culture of high fat and sugary foods used as rewards, in fundraising and in celebrations, is creating social and physical environments that contradict children's food education," the report read.
However, the report is receiving backlash via Twitter. Many parents feel that these events are a great way to raise money for school items and occasions and that without their funding, the children would miss out.
That's the last time I bake one of your cakes @jamieoliver for the school bake sale; ridiculous!
— Kelly (@Kellywild153) October 24, 2017
How many cakes do ppl think are at school? The occasional fundraising bake sale isn't responsible for childhood obesity.
— Heather Stanley (@hstanley_) October 24, 2017
the amount of salt, sugar & fat in @jamieoliver recipes far out way that of a an annual bake sale.
— john smithe (@krankyOlden) October 23, 2017
The chef responded on Tuesday, October 24 by tweeting out a photo of a healthly chocolate cake. "There's been a lot of talk about school bake sales and I want to set the record straight. I believe they're a good thing," he tweeted, pointing out that this issue was just one mention in a detailed report.
This tasty chocolate beetroot cake is one of my faves, my kids love it, and it's perfect for a bake sale! 1/6 pic.twitter.com/BU2zQtPDgU
— Jamie Oliver (@jamieoliver) October 24, 2017
There's been a lot of talk about school bake sales and I want to set the record straight. I believe they're a good thing 2/6
— Jamie Oliver (@jamieoliver) October 24, 2017
"Cake sales raise much needed funds for schools & kids have fun and hopefully pick up a few baking skills along the way – all good stuff," the chef tweeted. "All the focus has been on 1 comment from a student about whether bake sales send out a conflicting message."
All the focus has been on 1 comment from a student about whether bake sales send out a conflicting message, you can see their quote here 5/6 pic.twitter.com/nHjggqFZ2d
— Jamie Oliver (@jamieoliver) October 24, 2017
"It's It's a fair point, but with more robust food education bake sales 100% have a place," said Oliver, urging people to read the full report. Maybe if they sold these 9 nutritionist-approved desserts at bake sales, they could find a middle ground.