§ 89. Mr. Simon CoombsTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the current work of the Chief Medical Officer's committee on food policy.
§ Mrs. CurrieThe work currently being undertaken by the Chief Medical Officer's Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy through its panels, working groups and sub-committees includes
a continuing review of matters relating to infant and child nutrition, with particular reference to ways of promoting breastfeeding; as recommended in the COMA report "Present day practice in Infant Feeding: Third Report" published in February 1988;a continuing review of the relationship between diet and cardiovascular disease; as recommended in the COMA report on "Diet and Cardiovascular Disease" published in 1984;a study of the rate of growth and achieved height of primary schoolchildren aged 5 to 11, with special reference to inner city and ethnic minority groups;special consideration of the nutritional status of children in families in "bed and breakfast" accommodation;review of the recommended daily amounts for energy and nutrients, embracing protein, vitamins, minerals, fat, carbohydrate, dietary fibre; this panel was set up on 28 September 1987;the relationships, if any, between dietary sugars and disease; this panel was set up on 19 March 1987;completion of detailed analysis of data from the 1984 survey of schoolchildren's diets;analysis of the data from the 1986–87 survey of adult nutritional status and diets, in collaboration with MAFF and OPCS;preparation of the third report of the sub-committee on nutritional surveillance, a summary of which is expected shortly.We are most grateful to all the members of COMA for their efforts.