§ Mr. ShersbyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to publish the report on Dietary Sugars and Human Disease from the Chief Medical Officer's Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy (COMA).
§ Mr. FreemanThe COMA report "Dietary Sugars and Human Disease" is being published today. Copies have been placed in the Library. I welcome this important scientific document which, I know, has been awaited with great interest by doctors, dentists, nutrition scientists, consumer groups and food manufacturers. I congratulate Professor Keen and his team on the way they have dealt with this very complex and controversial issue. They have produced what, I believe, will be seen as a definitive statement on present knowledge of the relationship between dietary sugars and health.
The report's conclusions and recommendations are important and far reaching. It does not support the view, which some people would have us believe, that sugars at usual intake have direct adverse effect on general health. But it leaves no room for doubt that dietary sugars are by far the most important cause of dental caries, and recommends for this reason we should restrict our sugars intake.
Publication of the report reaffirms the Government's policy on increasing scientific and public knowledge about diet and health. Action is being taken on the majority of the report's recommendations. In particular the HEA 631W recently announced that nutrition would be a major component of their public health education strategy of which the report's recommendations will form an integral part. A range of health professionals will be made aware of the Report so that they can take account of its recommendations when dealing with their patients. We are also committed to improving the quality of information about nutritional status in relation to general and dental health and making it available so that people can make sensible choices about their diet.