Day 297 - 08 Nov 96 - Page 22
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2 MR. JUSTICE BELL: I should be able to do it myself by now.
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4 MS. STEEL: I think the thing is that he has obviously spent a
5 considerable length of time studying and analysing all
6 these reports over years and technically... Or, sorry, not
7 technically, theoretically, you can say if you wanted to
8 take time out you could get scientific training and become
9 a cancer specialist and then you would be in as good a
10 position as Dr. Arnott.
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12 MR. JUSTICE BELL: He does not have any scientific training.
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14 MS. STEEL: No, but the point is, what you can do in theory,
15 and what knowledge you have already got because of what you
16 have already done, are two different things, and the
17 reality is that Mr. Cannon has spent years studying and
18 analysing these reports, whereas you have spent a couple of
19 months in a trial.
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21 MR JUSTICE BELL: I agree with that. Anyway, I will have to see
22 how much can I rely on Mr. Cannon. I only raise it,
23 because I think there is a possible technical difficulty
24 here as well as one of substance. There we are.
25 Certainly, it is helpful to see what he has drawn attention
26 to. (Pause).
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28 MS. STEEL: Mr. Cannon continued, referring to research works.
29 He referred to Dr. Otis Bowen, the secretary of the
30 Department of Health and Human Services, who stated that
31 the evidence indicated a convergence of similar dietary
32 recommendations which applied to the prevention of multiple
33 chronic diseases. These included a reduction of fat in
34 relation to coronary heart disease and cancer. And it was
35 believed that this evidence was substantiated by a great
36 deal of research work. That was day 30, page 50.
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38 The National Cancer Institute issued dietary guidelines in
39 1988 which were restated in the World Health Organisation
40 report in 1990, and Mr. Cannon believes that this report
41 was central to our case because it offers guidelines for
42 the whole world. That was day 30, page 53. In the report,
43 it stated that a review of the evidence indicated that a
44 high intake of total fat is associated with an increased
45 risk of colon and breast cancer. That was day 30, page
46 54.
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48 There were statistics referred to from the National Academy
49 of Sciences in the USA which show that diet may be
50 responsible for 40 percent of cancers in men and 60 percent
51 in women. That evidence shows that a high fat consumption
52 is linked to the incidence of cancer. Day 30, page 59.
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54 Going back to the document Europe against Cancer, the
55 recommendations to avoid obesity by cutting down on fatty
56 foods, Mr. Cannon believed that this information was
57 generally accepted by member states in Europe. That was
58 day 30, page 62. There was reference to a quarterly sheet
59 produced by the World Cancer Research Fund which had been
60 endorsed by the Scottish Secretary of State, who said in
