Day 269 - 25 Jun 96 - Page 43
1 Q. Fine?
2 A. But that is really a minor point. I do not want to
3 labour it.
4
5 Q. Finally then, before we adjourn for lunch, can I ask you to
6 look at a conclusion about the relationship between fat and
7 cancer on page 52?
8 A. Page which?
9
10 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Page 52 please, Professor.
11
12 MR. RAMPTON: Without wasting time, you can see at the top of
13 the page, previous paragraph 3.5.5: "Dietary fat and
14 aetiology of cancer" is all about the relationship of fat
15 and dietary cancer. Then I ask you to look at the
16 conclusions at 3.5.6:
17
18 "Conclusions. The Panel concluded that there is currently
19 insufficient evidence on which to base a recommendation for
20 a decrease in fat intakes to prevent cancer, although an
21 increase in the consumption of fatty acid should not be
22 encouraged. The Panel agreed that the DRV's based on other
23 considerations and presented in paragraph 3.8 (that
24 Professor has to do with heart disease) were consistent
25 with a prudent view of the current data relating dietary
26 fat and the occurrence of cancer."
27
28 It is almost identical to what we saw in the WHO; is it
29 not?
30 A. Except that I think I point out to the WHO that its
31 recommendation does, on the basis of the evidence, when it
32 draws its final conclusions, make a specific recommendation
33 about the reduction of dietary fat.
34
35 Q. I accept that?
36 A. Yes. I mean, I would feel unhappy about these
37 statements here, and that would make me now return to your
38 first question about the composition of the committee. I
39 would have to say that there is not one person on the
40 committee that is an expert in fat metabolism. Nor is
41 there an expert on that committee in cancer, as far as I
42 can see.
43
44 Q. Well, to be fair, you are not an expert on cancer?
45 A. I am not an expert on cancer. I happen to be an
46 expert in dietary fats and health, I think I can claim
47 that.
48
49 Q. I know that and I would not dream of arguing with you about
50 any aspect of it, but it is a two stage question; is it
51 not?
52 A. It is indeed.
53
54 Q. You can study the fatty bit?
55 A. Yes.
56
57 Q. Somebody else has to study the cancer bit?
58 A. That is right. But I think, again with respect, I
59 think you should compare this with the Scottish
60 recommendations where, I think, they are much more firm
