Day 021 - 29 Jul 94 - Page 51


     
     1   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Where are you now, Mr. Rampton?
 
     2   MR. RAMPTON:  On page 6, my Lord.  The column headed
               "Cancers".  Professor Wheelock, do you see a passage
     3        which somebody has marked with a large letter B in a
              circle?
     4        A.  Yes.
 
     5   Q.   This was not read to you by Ms. Steel -- perhaps we can
              understand why if we read it --  "Although epidemiological
     6        studies concerned with diet have repeatedly shown an
              association between the dietary fat intake and the
     7        incidence of various types of cancer", so far is that
              right?
     8        A.  Yes, it is.
 
     9   Q.   "... there is still considerable doubt about the nature of
              the relationship.  It is now recognised that the diet
    10        consumed in Greece has a high fat content (about 40 per
              cent of calories) yet the incidences of most cancers and
    11        of heart disease are relatively low.  In fact, the age
              expectancy in Greece is one of the highest in the world".
    12        I think you told us that earlier today?
              A.  Yes, yes, we mentioned that.
    13
         Q.   "The big difference between the Greek diet and those
    14        typical of Northern Europe and North America is that the
              Greeks consume a high proportion of olive oil.  The amount
    15        of saturated fat in Greece is very low, although currently
              it is increasing.  In an attempt to gain greater insight,
    16        cancer researchers are now attempting", this is end of
              1991,"to determine the role of the different types of fat
    17        in the diet.  There is some suggestion that saturated fat
              may be the critical factor, but much more information is
    18        needed before firm conclusions can be drawn.  As explained
              later, the high proportion of fresh fruit and vegetables
    19        in the Greek diet probably contributes to the low
              incidence of the degenerative diseases".
    20
              As a statement of your state of learning in 1991, is that
    21        something to which you now adhere?
              A.  Yes, there is nothing that has happened that would
    22        make me change my mind on that at all.
 
    23   Q.   So, in your view it was accurate then and it is accurate
              at this date?
    24        A.  Yes.
 
    25   Q.   Thank you.  Do you recall having your attention drawn to a
              passage in one of McDonald's leaflets not long ago? 
    26        A.  Yes. 
  
    27   Q.   Do you recall a statement by the Government in the MAFF
              booklet to the effect that there may be a link between
    28        this sort of diet and various kinds of cancers?
              A.  Yes.
    29
         Q.   Do those all seem to you to be reasonable sorts of
    30        statements?
              A.  Perfectly consistent in my view.

Prev Next Index