Day 023 - 13 Sep 94 - Page 17
1 that what they mean, in your view?
2 A. Well, what they are saying is they believe that
3 dietary factors are now known to influence the development
4 of a wide range of chronic diseases. What they are
5 suggesting is that by the year 2000, these are obviously
6 going to be greater problems.
7
8 Q. Because they are moving into countries where they are not
9 so much of a problem at the moment?
10 A. I would say that is what they are assuming, yes.
11
12 Q. Then it goes on to talk about the type of diet: "The
13 'affluent' type of diet that often accompanies economic
14 development is energy-dense. People consuming these diets
15 characteristically have a high intake of fat (especially
16 saturated fats) and free sugars and a relatively low
17 intake of complex carbohydrates (from starchy,
18 fibre-containing foods). Such diets are well established
19 in developed countries, and are now becoming more common
20 in most developing countries, where they are typically
21 adopted first by the urban, upper- and middle-class
22 population."
23
24 I want to emphasise the next bit: "This change in diet
25 can now be linked to the increasing incidence of chronic
26 diseases and of premature death. Evidence suggests that
27 many of these premature deaths and disabilities should be
28 preventable by changes in diet and in other aspects of
29 life-style." So they are not only concerned with diet,
30 but other aspects as well.
31
32 "Governments and communities, in both developing and
33 developed countries, should act now to reduce the future
34 burden of these diseases. Their prevention or reduction
35 is both a social responsibility and an economic
36 necessity."
37
38 I am just trying to understand your position.
39 I understand that you have -- would it be fair to say -- a
40 fairly, I cannot think of a good word, "cynical" might not
41 be a good word.
42 A. I hope not.
43
44 Q. In a positive sense, in that your view is that all the
45 options are open because you are involved in research and
46 treatment, yes?
47 A. Yes.
48
49 Q. But in terms of the World Health Organisation they are not
50 a tendency, are they? They are taking the overall view of
51 medical and scientific evidence, yes? Is that their role?
52 A. Not necessarily. You see, one of the problems is that
53 there will be a committee which has been set up to produce
54 this report. The members of that committee themselves
55 will have their own individual concepts. You cannot say
56 that these people are just going to -- these people will
57 put forward their interpretation of how they see the
58 evidence. You know, they are people, they are not just
59 automatons who are going to sit there.
60
