Day 252 - 20 May 96 - Page 54
1
2 Q. The last point is if you look at page 161, recommendation
3 number 20.
4
5 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Page again, Mr. Morris??
6
7 MR. MORRIS: Page 116. It says:
8
9 "Discussions should be encouraged with the Government, the
10 food industry and the consumers to ensure the development
11 of food products are low in fat, free sugars and salt."
12
13 Would you accept that industry has a responsibility to
14 develop food products low in fats, free sugars and salt?
15 A. I think industry should be in the position of offering
16 alternatives to the consumer. I would have reservations
17 about sugar because since this committee was set up, ideas
18 about sugar have changed quite dramatically, but as far as
19 fat and salt are concerned, you asked me a question about
20 industry with which I was associated.
21
22 The only major organisation with which I am associated has,
23 in fact, introduced low fat alternatives which turned out
24 to be extremely unpopular with the consumer and low salt,
25 well again, the consumer, if he does not like the taste of
26 something, tends to add salt. We have a major education
27 exercise here on our hands, but industry has responded to
28 these requests and there are many, many lower fat, low salt
29 alternatives available.
30
31 Q. I just wanted to hand up other copies of the WHO Report for
32 us to have. I think you already have a copy of those
33 pages, 27 to 47.
34
35 On page 33 it has a chart in the top right-hand
36 corner: "Causes of death in developing countries and world
37 total". It says: "Diseases of circulatory system" which
38 part would come into that, would it not? At the top
39 right-hand corner of that, there is a chart on page 33?
40 A. On page 33, there is no chart. Are you sure it is not
41 page 35?
42
43 Q. There should be a chart.
44
45 MR. JUSTICE BELL: A table?
46 A. A table, yes.
47
48 MR. MORRIS: Sorry?
49 A. Yes, it is a table.
50
51 Q. And it says: "Diseases of the circulatory system.
52 Developed countries: 54 percent causes of death are down
53 to diseases of circulatory system. In developing countries
54 19 percent which averages out the world total of 26
55 percent".
56
57 Do accept that diseases of the circulatory system, which
58 heart disease is a major component, are very substantial
59 health risks to be taken seriously?
60 A. Yes, indeed. I mean, certainly looking at these
