‘Cake culture’ in the workplace is fuelling the obesity epidemic and contributing to poor dental health, a dental leader will warn.

Workers should bring fruit platters into the office instead of doughnuts, cookies and biscuits, the dean of the Faculty of Dental Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons in London said.

Professor Nigel Hunt called for employers to stop offering such snacks in meetings.

In a speech to the Faculty of Dental Surgery’s annual dinner, he said: “Managers want to reward staff for their efforts, colleagues want to celebrate special occasions, and workers want to bring back a gift from their holidays. But for many people the workplace is now the primary site of their sugar intake and is contributing to the current obesity epidemic and poor oral health.

“It is particularly dangerous that this is lying around the office all day for as we know, sugar has a particularly negative effect if it’s eaten outside of meal time.”

He added: “Cake culture also poses difficulties for those who are trying their hardest to lose weight or become healthier – how many of us have begun such diets only to cave in to the temptation of the doughnuts, cookies or the triple chocolate biscuits?”

“I’m not saying we need to ban such treats. But we do need a change in culture. When people are going out to the shops and buying cake and sweets, they should at least consider buying smaller quantities and making them available only with lunch meals.

“Ideally office workers should consider other alternatives altogether like fruit platters, nuts or cheese.”