Day 297 - 08 Nov 96 - Page 12
1 body of evidence and respectable organisations who support
2 the theory that some dietary fats may be involved in the
3 development of breast and colon cancer, although he was of
4 the belief that he could not say conclusively if it was a
5 factor. He did admit that he was also not in a position to
6 say for certain that he could show cause and effect in
7 relation to smoking and lung cancer, which obviously is a
8 point we have already made. Day 22, page 7 and day 22,
9 page 3.
10
11 We submit that this shows the special relationship of risk
12 and health in the minds of ordinary citizens. Smoking is
13 readily linked to cancer, despite the official state of
14 research, and no one would consider that there was anything
15 wrong about publishing a leaflet drawing the link to the
16 attention of the public; and in fact on the contrary, it
17 would be applauded. We say that should be the case for
18 drawing the links between diet and cancer for the public as
19 well, so they can choose for themselves whether or not they
20 want to take the risk.
21
22 In response to quotes from the World Health Organisation
23 report on diet, nutrition and the prevention of chronic
24 diseases, which was published in 1990, Dr. Arnott said what
25 it said about diet and cancer was reasonable and that the
26 conclusion appears to be that there is a relationship
27 between fat and the development of cancer. That was day
28 22, page 12.
29
30 He also agreed that the WHO consider there is a link
31 between obesity and cancer, which was day 22, page 13. He
32 conceded that although his view is that there is not a
33 conclusive relationship between fat and cancer, it would be
34 prudent to try and reduce your fat intake. Day 22, page
35 15. Why you would want to do that if there was not a risk,
36 I don't know.
37
38 After we quoted Professor Wheelock's statement to him, Dr.
39 Arnott admitted that diet does play an important role in
40 degenerative diseases, including heart disease and cancer.
41 That was on day 22, page 28. And he agreed that there was
42 a considerable amount of evidence to suggest this link, and
43 considered that in the light of this, the recommendation to
44 eat less of the foods that are rich in fat, sugar and salt
45 is reasonable. That was day 22, page 29.
46
47 Dr. Arnott stated that it was reasonable to assume that
48 aspects of our diet are involved in the causation of
49 certain illnesses, including cancer. That was day 22, page
50 30. And he agreed that it was a reasonable position to
51 assume in 1985 and at the present date that diet is an
52 important contributory factor to cancer, on day 22, page
53 31.
54
55 I referred yesterday to Dr. Arnott agreeing that the
56 statement made in the London Greenpeace fact sheet was a
57 reasonable statement when it was directed to the public. I
58 can't remember if I gave a reference for that.
59
60 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Yes, I think you did. Give it to me now.
