§ Lord Clement-Jonesasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they plan to review policy on nutrition to establish the level of nutrient intake which achieves optimum health rather than simply avoiding diseases of nutritional deficiency. [HL5156]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Warner)Dietary reference values for nutrients form the basis of nutrient recommendations on dietary intakes and are used for assessing the adequacy of diets. These levels were set taking into account a variety of factors including levels of nutrients in the diet associated with the absence of nutritional disease. The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition is currently considering the need for a scientific review of dietary reference values in the context of its deliberations on the committee's forward work programme.
§ The Countess of Marasked Her Majesty's Government:
What action is being taken by the Food Standards Agency to review its assessment of the role of high carbohydrate intakes in relation to obesity; and whether that action includes a referral of the issue to the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition. [HL5546]
§ Lord WarnerCurrent government advice on carbohydrate intake is based on recommendations from the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy. This advice was supported by the recent Report of a Joint Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations/World Health Organisation Expert Consultation on Diet, Nutrition and the Prevention of Chronic Diseases (2003).
The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition is currently considering the need for a scientific review of a number of issues which relate to obesity, as part of 336WA its deliberations on the committee's forward work programme.
§ The Countess of Marasked Her Majesty's Government:
What recent representations they and the Food Standards Agency have received from trade bodies representing the flour, potato and sugar industries in relation to the effectiveness of low carbohydrate diets; and whether it is their policy to ensure that commercial considerations do not outweigh scientific evidence when they review policy on diet and nutrition. [HL5548]
§ Lord WarnerNo such representations have been received from trade bodies representing these food industry sectors in relation to the effectiveness of low carbohydrate diets.
The Government and the Food Standards Agency place the interests of consumers first when scientific evidence and views from relevant stakeholders on particular policy issues are considered.