Health Targets (Hansard, 15 January 1990)

§ Mr. Freeman

[holding answer 21 December 1989]The Chief Medical Officer's Committee on the Medical Aspects of Food Policy (COMA) has considered the consumption of saturated fatty acids and sodium chloride in relation to cardiovascular disease and dietary sugars in relation to general health and made the following recommendations which we have accepted:

(a) saturated fatty acids—the maximum intake for saturated plus trans fatty acids should be 15 per cent. of total food energy. (COMA Report "Diet and Cardiovascular Disease")
(b) sugars—as sugars are the most important dietary factor in the cause of dental caries everyone should reduce the amount and frequency with which they take sugars. COMA did not, however, recommend a specific target. (COMA Report "Dietary Sugars and Human Disease")
(c) sodium chloride-as the dietary intake of salt is needlessly high there should be no further increase in consumption and ways of decreasing current levels should be sought. COMA did not, however, recommend a specific target. (COMA Report "Diet and Cardiovascular Disease")

Newly diagnosed cases of cancer, rates (per 100,000 population) for female breast¹ and the cervix uteri² by age group for Northern regional health authority, Yorkshire regional health authority and United Kingdom, 1980–84
TABLE 1
Malignant neoplasm of female breast
Year and age group	Northern RHA	Yorkshire RHA	United Kingdom
1980
55–59	154.53	179.02	169.40
60–64	169.97	184.29	178.86
65–69	189.92	211.35	199.94
70+	200.96	211.15	229.43
1981
55–59	150.31	177.90	161.78
60–64	155.90	176.95	169.94
65–69	161.71	180.18	198.30
70+	193.70	221.28	231.54
1982
55–59	171.76	175.51	168.52
60–64	167.92	198.63	188.24
65–69	162.79	191.07	200.32
70+	178.76	217.68	231.39
1983
55–59	138.56	171.57	168.01
60–64	156.15	185.43	177.16
65–69	163.89	194.23	200.11
70+	198.25	232.22	235.77
1984
55–59	162.49	176.41	167.42
60–64	192.38	171.53	182.96
65–69	213.23	206.57	197.79
70+	198.68	225.25	235.04

TABLE 2
Malignant neoplasm of the cervix uteri
Year and age group	Northern RHA	Yorkshire RHA	United Kingdom
1980
55–59	45.28	48.82	35.31
60–64	37.25	43.98	35.55
65–69	35.17	27.39	30.36
70+	30.92	34.06	24.67

90W

The COMA panel on recommended daily amounts is currently considering setting benchmark figures for intakes by the population of saturated fatty acids, sugars and salt.

As far as alcohol is concerned we have accepted the views of three medical Royal Colleges that 21 units of alcohol per week for men and 14 units per week for women are sensible limits for the consumption of alcohol.

We are committed to ensuring that the best possible information about sensible eating and drinking is made available so that individuals can make informed choices.