Some things astound me...

mrd232
mrd232 Posts: 331
edited September 20 in Health and Weight Loss
I was at the grocery store the other day walking out of the dairy section and through the bakery. Considering, you know, I hate grains and all that jazz, I never buy anything in it, but I noticed an interesting display: pink sprinkle donuts for breast cancer awareness.

Now, before I get massively flamed, I 'get' all the awareness. I'm cool with raising it and showing support in the form of monetary donations, emotional support, etc. I donate money to various BC causes and groups as well as the ACS. But some of the uh, support and fundraising has gotten a little ridiculous. Donuts? Candy? Sugary yogurt?

Call me a food nazi, but seriously, supporting ANY health initiative in the name of junk food and sugar is ridiculous. Anyone who has had a loved one recover from cancer (or seriously, any other serious health condition or disease) isn't exactly advised to go munch down a donut. In fact, excessive sugar consumption has been shown to increase tumor size (read: sugar may feed cancer cells). I also enjoy the candy displays at work acting as fundraising for the AHA. Simply astounding.

So call me insensitive and a jerk, but I look in scorn every time I see a major food company pimping its sugary products in the name of health research (YOPLAIT - Hi there, I'm talking to you AND Tropicana, yeah you too, heart health my rear end...)

Replies

  • JStarnes
    JStarnes Posts: 5,576 Member
    "supporting ANY health initiative in the name of junk food and sugar is ridiculous"

    Never thought about it before - I totally agree.
  • mrd232
    mrd232 Posts: 331
    I think a lot of it's the way corporations work in terms of "social responsibility." Big food producer gets a tax break through major donations, so, they clean up their image by putting up a large campaign and advertisements for their support to charity, health initiatives, etc.

    I suppose it's no different than big coal donating money to environmental causes...it just tees me off, regardless.

    No offense to anyone munching down a pink donut, but you're probably NOT going about curing cancer the best way.
  • saranmicah09
    saranmicah09 Posts: 15
    Well I agree in fact when my grandfather had cancer they told him to cut out as much sugar as possible because it does aid in speeding up tumor growth. And not offend anyone in anyway but if your picking up chocolate bars or doughnuts your probably trying to use the awareness as an excuse to indulge.
  • CasperO
    CasperO Posts: 2,913 Member
    Well riddle me this Batman - can you imagine some average american walking thru Walmart on their way to the bean sprouts and chickpeas, and seeing the big pink ribbon on the side of a box of deep-fried crap, and saying "Hey - there's a good idea. I was gonna have a salad, but since the Wesayso Corporation is giving 0.0001% of the profits to breast cancer research, I think I'll have a garbage filled donut with extra pink candy sprinkles instead!".

    Me neither,,, :bigsmile:

    My mom died of cancer, as has half of my family. I'll take every dime we can get. I think the people who were gonna buy the crap were gonna buy it anyway, and if it helps some scientist pay for another clinical trial of some drug that might get us there, I'll take it.
  • mountainmare
    mountainmare Posts: 294 Member
    Yesterday I was in our local store--yes right up front an entire display of pink frosting cakes, donuts etc. supporting awareness.
    At the checkout there are pink canvas grocery bags. readind the tags --NOT ONE PENNY goes to support cancer research (you know if any money did go to support it would be there). Same with the pink processed cakes.
    I pointed this out to the manager who said I was not the first customer to notice this.
    To me this is almost a crime. I heard one customer buy a bag because she wanted to support cancer research, all she was supporting was the corporation that owns the store!!!
  • saranmicah09
    saranmicah09 Posts: 15
    well I have lost both of my grandparents on my mothers side and most of my dads family to cancer. My uncle is a cancer survior and i also have precancerous markings that i am being monitored for so no one is saying awareness and donations are not appreicated but there is wrong n right was to do it. I mean its like major tobacco industries having a lung cancer awareness donation or sugar filled candies being sold for Juvenile diabetes. and i agree i will take any donation if it means there will be a cure one day but the discussion is of the irony of it all. I most deffinately would love to never hear the word cancer related to me or one of my family members again i have taken care of n watched enough of my family lose the battle. Your also right they probably arent going to change their mind on what they buy because of the pink sprinkles or a various colored ribbon showing cancer support but i know that i am still weak enough to break down n buy that doughnut or that candy bar and try to tell myself that im making a donation to cancer awareness
  • dyf11710
    dyf11710 Posts: 19
    Well riddle me this Batman - can you imagine some average american walking thru Walmart on their way to the bean sprouts and chickpeas, and seeing the big pink ribbon on the side of a box of deep-fried crap, and saying "Hey - there's a good idea. I was gonna have a salad, but since the Wesayso Corporation is giving 0.0001% of the profits to breast cancer research, I think I'll have a garbage filled donut with extra pink candy sprinkles instead!".

    Me neither,,, :bigsmile:

    My mom died of cancer, as has half of my family. I'll take every dime we can get. I think the people who were gonna buy the crap were gonna buy it anyway, and if it helps some scientist pay for another clinical trial of some drug that might get us there, I'll take it.

    took the words out of my mouth, I agree completely.
  • mrd232
    mrd232 Posts: 331
    Yesterday I was in our local store--yes right up front an entire display of pink frosting cakes, donuts etc. supporting awareness.
    At the checkout there are pink canvas grocery bags. readind the tags --NOT ONE PENNY goes to support cancer research (you know if any money did go to support it would be there). Same with the pink processed cakes.
    I pointed this out to the manager who said I was not the first customer to notice this.
    To me this is almost a crime. I heard one customer buy a bag because she wanted to support cancer research, all she was supporting was the corporation that owns the store!!!

    This is also a VERY good point regarding a lot of fundraising products. For example, I purchase Lafe's natural deoderant and it states 2% of proceeds benefit breast cancer research, but it's a very small label on the back. I've seen a couple displays of pink products and doo-dads where zilch actually goes toward funding or research.

    But for every scam out there, there's usually another worthwhile campaign, luckily.
  • mrd232
    mrd232 Posts: 331
    ...and unfortunately when those people buy the crap (the ones who were going to buy it anyway) and end up with health problems... It's now OUR problem.

    It's a vicious cycle.
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