Day 256 - 04 Jun 96 - Page 68


     
     1        WHO study group and it is published in Geneva in 1990. I
     2        would ask you, please, to turn to page 91 under the heading
     3        "Fat Consumption".
     4
     5        I will not, if you will excuse me, read the first
     6        paragraph, which is about body mass index.  It is the
     7        second paragraph I would like your comment on:
     8
     9        "Table 11, page 67, which summarises the links between diet
    10        and cancer, suggests that a high intake of total fat may
    11        also promote the development of a number of cancers.  The
    12        evidence cannot be considered sufficiently strong to be
    13        termed causal but most expert groups now consider it
    14        prudent to reduce fat intakes in western societies from the
    15        prevailing figure of about 40 per cent of energy towards
    16        the 20 to 30 per cent figure."
    17
    18        That is not the British Government, that is a composite
    19        body from round the world.  What comment do you have about
    20        that?
    21        A.  Well, it is certainly less timid because they are
    22        indicating there that fat intake is as low as 20 per cent
    23        in calories or acceptable, which is quite low for western
    24        countries that is.
    25
    26   Q.   Yes.
    27        A.  The statement where it says: "The evidence cannot be
    28        considered sufficiently strong to be termed causal", goes
    29        on to say, "but most expert groups now consider it
    30        prudent".  That is a rather funny way of saying something
    31        in the one hand----
    32
    33   MR. JUSTICE BELL: I think what we have had on a number of
    34        occasions is you have a question mark over whether
    35        something might possibly cause cancer for instance.  A
    36        person expresses the point of view that the evidence falls
    37        short of showing that it is causal but there are all sorts
    38        of other good reasons related to other benefits of cutting
    39        down fat intake so you recommend a maximum of such and such
    40        a per cent, it is possible that it will reduce the
    41        incidence of cancer.  It may very well make you healthier
    42        in other respects.  Do you understand?
    43        A.  Yes.
    44
    45   Q.   And that, Mr. Rampton, is possibly, is it not, the
    46        explanation for that?
    47
    48   MR. RAMPTON:  That is right, my Lord, yes.
    49
    50   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  There is not necessarily a contradiction 
    51        because they are not just looking at cancer, particularly 
    52        in this WHO report. 
    53
    54   MR. RAMPTON:  That is right.  My Lord, one sees that from the
    55        negotiation page to which I am shortly coming to.
    56
    57   MS. STEEL:  I think the witness was in the middle of an answer.
    58
    59   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  He was but I was trying to explain that there
    60        is not necessarily a contradiction.  It is quite right that

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