§ Dr. FoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what the publication date is of the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy's report on the role of diet in the prevention of osteoporosis. [24445]
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§ Yvette CooperThe Committee on Medical Aspects of Food and Nutrition Policy (COMA) published a report on "Nutrition and Bone Health" in 1998. The report made a number of recommendations including that
a healthy lifestyle to maintain bone health should be encouraged at all ages".To complement the report the Health Education Authority produced a fact sheet, "Nutrition and Bone Health", summing up the COMA recommendations in a user-friendly format.
COMA has been replaced by a new Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) which held its first meeting in June 2001. SACN is a committee of independent experts which will advise Government, via the Chief Medical Officers and the Food Standards Agency (FSA), on matters relating to nutrition, diet and health. Osteoporosis is not a named area of work within the Committee's current work programme. Information about the work of SACN can be obtained from the Committee's website www.sacn.gov.uk.