Help Fight Breast Cancer - Buy these M&M’s?
Posted
October 5, 2006 at
2:17 am by
Cristina
I’m all for supporting important causes. I regularly donate to my local food bank and I try to give to other charities or causes when I can. But I have to say that it makes me uncomfortable when I see people raising money for a good cause by selling something questionable.
Take, for example, soda sales in schools.?‚? Historically, elementary, middle, and high?‚? schools have commonly used?‚? soda and junk food sales to help boost school revenues. Most people would probably agree?‚? that boosting school revenues is a worthy endeavor, but do we really want to?‚? raise funds by selling?‚? our children?‚? sugary, high-calorie sodas??‚? Are we?‚? that desperate that we’ll push poor?‚? eating habits on our kids?‚? just to raise a few bucks?
Here’s another example. I stopped into a local convenience store over the weekend and was greeted by this display on the counter. It was a hot pink box of specially-wrapped “Breast Cancer Awareness” M&Ms. Proceeds from the sales of these artifically-colored, artificially-flavored, (and, dare I say, potentially cancer-causing?) M&Ms go to support fighting breast cancer.
OK, so there’s no proven link between M&M’s and breast cancer, but there is evidence that obesity and high-fat diets are risk factors for breast cancer. So if that’s true, then?‚? why are we pushing high-fat, high-calorie foods on people in the name of Breast Cancer Awareness? Maybe it’s because?‚? apples and bananas just wouldn’t sell as well as M&Ms? Still, something doesn’t feel right about it to me.
Yet, I?‚? find this to be a tough issue. On the one hand, the proceeds of the sale of these candies will go to a great cause, but on the other hand, selling junk food to fight breast cancer seems to be a conflict of interest.
So, I’m interested in what you all think.?‚? Would you buy M&Ms in the name of breast cancer awareness?
Tags: breast-cancer, Health |
28 Responses to “Help Fight Breast Cancer - Buy these M&M’s?”
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1. Andrea said:
October 5, 2006 @ 8:51 am
No. I’d rather give a donation to the group and know that every penny of it is going to ‘the cause’ then give a substantial chunk of the money to a candy company.
2. Julie said:
October 5, 2006 @ 9:01 am
Hell, I’d buy M&Ms because they’re yummy.
I see your point. There’s a definite inconsistency here, and a similarity to the sale of soda and candy in schools.
3. Megan said:
October 5, 2006 @ 9:57 am
I am ambivalent about donating at all to the “issue of the moment” (and somehow M&M’s overboard to me). Breast Cancer is a serious disease and we desperately need more research. But what ever happened to AIDS. Gone with 90’s? And all of the millions of other diseases out there that need further research for prevention and cures? I am more likely to donate to causes that are NOT in the limelight because they are not in the limelight and therefore not getting as much attention, awareness or money.
4. celebrate woo-woo said:
October 5, 2006 @ 10:06 am
I have indeed purchased said M&Ms. I bought a couple bags the first time I saw them and just a couple days ago bought 10 bags (5 plain, 5 peanut) and gave them to co-workers and family…of course, we all love M&Ms anyhow and would have been eating them in smaller quantities regardless, so I figure buying the ones that will contribute to the cause is just a little something extra special.
I do see your point, though…but chocolate causing cancer? I must cover my ears and sing la-la-la like the smurfs;>
5. Much More Than A Mom said:
October 5, 2006 @ 3:04 pm
It does seem a bit silly. I’d probably buy them just because they taste good but, like Andrea, I’d rather give cash.
6. lildb said:
October 5, 2006 @ 3:58 pm
yes. I would.
not that I don’t wholeheartedly agree with your take on this irony. I’m just a weak, weak-willed human with a penchant for le chocolate.
mmmm. chocolate. *drools*
see? I’m pathetic. you can’t take me anywhere.
7. Jessica Carlson said:
October 5, 2006 @ 6:36 pm
I have to ask though, are the M&M’s actually pink too? Because I think those funky colors are kinda gross/unappetizing.
My guess is that if they ran the same charitable promotion on Tofu, there would be a large disparity in the contributions. It’s a cheap and relatively easy way for people who like M&M’s to do their part. That’s my take on it anyway…
8. Mary-LUE said:
October 5, 2006 @ 8:13 pm
Probably. Although I have to admit, M&M chocolate is not tops on my list these days. Sometimes, though, a craving is a craving and if it were in front of me? Gotta go for it.
I appreciate your having that dilemma. It is too easy to see something like that and not think about some of the implications. Good thinkin’.
9. Nancy said:
October 5, 2006 @ 8:54 pm
Let me help you with this dilemna …
As someone who has plenty of retail experience, whether or not you buy the M&M’s the money has already been given to support the advertised cause. You see, the company who makes M&M’s already made their contribution to Breast Cancer Research … they then sold the M&M’s to the store that you saw them at and that store has already paid for the M&M’s … and the store is simply using charity as an advertising gimmick.
I guess you might call me a little cynical about these things …
You’re right to feel strange because your generosity is being exploited in order to get you to consume and help someone else turn a profit.
10. redroller said:
October 5, 2006 @ 9:33 pm
I agree with you, I think it is funny (odd). I noticed that at the end of your post, there was a clickable ad for M&Ms. We just can’t get away from marketing, can we?
11. Prescott said:
October 5, 2006 @ 10:06 pm
Ethics aside, I think it’s off putting to tie any foodstuff to a disease. Whenever I’m ingesting chocolate, I usually don’t want the forefront thought in my mind to be cancer.
12. Cristina said:
October 6, 2006 @ 12:33 am
Jessica: not sure if they’re pink b/c I didn’t buy any.
But I think your point and celebrate woo-woo’s point are well-taken: if you’re going to be buying M&M’s ANYWAY, then buying the ones where some of the money goes to breast cancer research makes good sense. I think my problem is more with the breast cancer foundations who I don’t think should be connecting themselves with M&M to begin with.
Nancy: How interesting. I didn’t know that’s how it worked. I just assumed that a percentage of the sales went to the foundation.
Redroller: there was an ad for M&M’s near the end of my post? Seriously? Is that a coincidence or can they tag their ads to sites by searching for keywords? That is kinda scary!
13. Catch said:
October 6, 2006 @ 5:27 am
What I dont like about it is you are never sure just how much of that money went to breast cancer awareness. Wouldnt it be easier just to send your donation to the breast cancer fund??? Then you know they get all of it.
14. celebrate woo-woo said:
October 6, 2006 @ 7:23 am
Just some follow up…the M&Ms in these packages are pink: some light, some dark.
As for how much goes to the foundation, the packages I bought stated that $0.35 for each 14 oz. bag and $0.50 for each 21.3 oz. bag sold would be donated, with a minimum donation of $250,000.
15. Mrs. Chicky said:
October 6, 2006 @ 8:41 am
I thought this was sort of peculiar, as well. I also found it very funny that when participating in the Relay for Life (an event to raise money and awareness for all cancers) the vendors who were there to sell food were all selling fatty, fried foods. And not one vegetarian option in sight.
And I agree with Catch, I’d like to know how much of each packet of M&Ms is going to breast cancer research.
16. mamatulip said:
October 6, 2006 @ 9:58 am
To be honest, I’ve never thought about this. You raise an interesting question here and I really don’t know if I’d buy pink M&M’s to support breast cancer research/awareness. I probably would, but I’d be a bit wary of, like others have mentioned, just how much of my money will go toward research funding.
17. Michelle said:
October 6, 2006 @ 10:05 am
I’m visiting over here from Much More Than A Mom’s site of the week - congrats
Interesting topic! When I first saw the pink M&Ms (I haven’t actually purchased any) I thought well what a neat idea! But now reading your post has me thinking…hmmm…it is interesting about selling chocolate to raise awareness of breast cancer.
If I were planning to buy M&Ms anyway, I would buy the pink ones just because it will go to support a cause so why not if I’m going to be buying them, but I see your point about encouraging someone to buy high-fat food isn’t really such a good idea!
18. Izzy said:
October 7, 2006 @ 2:07 am
I think Mars, the manufacturer of M&M’s should just GIVE money to the cause without requiring people to buy some crappy candy. I mean I like M&M’s as much as anyone else but it’s junk. Junk and cancer research are not compatible, IMHO.
Good call, partner
19. Tracie said:
October 8, 2006 @ 12:44 am
I must confess…..I am not very health conscious, and I would probably be buying M&Ms anyway.(It’s true, just ask my husband) but I see your point about the slight conflict of interest going on. I prefer to send money directly to orginizations that I plan on donating to.
From what celebrate woo-woo said it sounds like M&M’s will be giving $250,000 reguardless of candy sells, so that is still a good thing.
20. Cristina said:
October 8, 2006 @ 12:56 am
Catch: good point. I think I’d also donate directly to the foundation myself or maybe buy some Breast Cancer stamps before I’d go for the pink M&Ms.
Mrs. Chicky: the vendors at Relay for Life were selling fried foods? Why am I not surprised!?
21. Tanja said:
October 16, 2006 @ 7:29 am
Pink is pink - so why not pink fridge magnets or bows or fluffy things with eyes to stick on lapels or handbags, or scarves, or flamingo keychains? First we make a no-junk rule for kids and then we stuff them with additives and caffeine and sucrose? Doesn’t make sense.
22. something blue said:
October 21, 2006 @ 1:49 am
In Canada, the Pink M&M’s Program will be selling 800,000 bags and donating $200,000 (25 cents for each bag sold) to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.
Yes they will make money and I wouldn’t buy them to make a contribution. I would however buy them to put a bowl of cute pink M&M’s out at a party. Kind of like when Rockstars make crazy requests in their riders. “There will be no brown M&M’s in the backstage area.”
23. Brooke said:
November 2, 2006 @ 9:51 am
I bought them for the guys in my office (who will eat anything) and reminded them that it was
“Breast Cancer Awareness” month. Hopefully, they took the message home to their wives.
24. Rhonda said:
January 19, 2007 @ 10:53 pm
My mother died at a yound age from breast cancer,so I am all for it. This is a terrible disease and if pink m&ms help raise awareness and money for the cause then I am greatfull. No one should have to die like my mother did. I know a few people with weight issues and for them it is not the food that is the problem but self esteem issues that they are working on. Obesity is not just about the types of food that we consume. Moderation in all things……
25. Helen said:
January 11, 2008 @ 9:31 pm
[quote comment="4025"]Pink is pink - so why not pink fridge magnets or bows or fluffy things with eyes to stick on lapels or handbags, or scarves, or flamingo keychains? First we make a no-junk rule for kids and then we stuff them with additives and caffeine and sucrose? Doesn’t make sense.[/quote]
If you lived in Canada you would see just about everything being sold in pink for the cause. Can’t believe its not the same in the States. Must admit I’m getting a bit sick of seeing my disease being used to market Lean Cuisine, New Balance sports wear, and just about everything else in between. I suspect just a fraction actually goes to help breast cancer. It certainly doesn’t go to the patients to help them when they are sick.
26. breastcancerdaughter said:
June 2, 2008 @ 12:56 pm
good grief, i read for a while and had to stop. it’s easy to be flippant about something that hasn’t affected you, yet. my mother is fighting BC for the 2nd time around, and it’s m&m’s for crying out loud. they’re just figuring that since people are going to buy them anyway, because they are yummy, than why not help out a good cause in the process. sure it’s easier to just donate the money, but seriously, who is going to take the time to do it? in the meantime, money is being raised without people having to figure out a way to help. as far as m&m’s potential to cause cancer, half of america would be dead by now if the multi colored candy caused cancer. good grief, lighten up.
27. Helen said:
June 3, 2008 @ 2:46 pm
Well they do make you put on weight and thats one of the things to avoid if you are cancer prone. Eat lots of vegetables,exercise and avoid smoking and alcohol. Apparently most women don’t change their lifestyle at all even after a diagnosis of cancer. Don’t forget the vitamin D either,800mgs a day. I sort of changed my mind a bit about fund raising when I found out that only 52% of the money from The Weekend To End Breastcancer actually goes to fight cancer. The rest goes for promotion etc. It has sort of become a cottage industry hasn’t it ? I guess its better than ignoring it. One point needs to be made. Most people think only young women get breast cancer. They tend to use young women for promotions. Why I don’t know. Actually 80% occurs in women over fifty and gets more common as you age.Most cancers do.It has to do with cells taking so long to mutate I guess.But you hardly ever hear this do you. So go and get your mammograms ESPECIALLY if you are over fifty and have it in your family,or are Jewish. More common in Jewish women.
28. Helen said:
June 3, 2008 @ 2:46 pm
Well they do make you put on weight and thats one of the things to avoid if you are cancer prone. Eat lots of vegetables,exercise and avoid smoking and alcohol. Apparently most women don’t change their lifestyle at all even after a diagnosis of cancer. Don’t forget the vitamin D either,800mgs a day. I sort of changed my mind a bit about fund raising when I found out that only 52% of the money from The Weekend To End Breastcancer actually goes to fight cancer. The rest goes for promotion etc. It has sort of become a cottage industry hasn’t it ? I guess its better than ignoring it. One point needs to be made. Most people think only young women get breast cancer. They tend to use young women for promotions. Why I don’t know. Actually 80% occurs in women over fifty and gets more common as you age.Most cancers do.It has to do with cells taking so long to mutate I guess.But you hardly ever hear this do you. So go and get your mammograms ESPECIALLY if you are over fifty and have it in your family,or are Jewish. More common in Jewish women.