WHO report misleading on diet guidelines

The food industry has voiced its objections to the recently published draft WHO report on diet and nutrition and the prevention of diseases.

The draft report provides recommendations to countries to help reduce the burden of disease related to obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular and dental diseases. It advises limiting saturated fats and sugar in our diets.

President and CEO of The Sugar Association Richard Keelor has raised strong objections to the emphasis on sugar in the report calling it misguided and misleading.

Keelor said:"The preponderance of the recent scientific evidence exonerating sugar (sucrose) as a causative factor in obesity, diabetes, heart disease, hyperactivity and dental caries has all but been ignored."​ However he did support the recommendations on physical activity and balanced nutrition.

The Association cited the National Academy of Sciences, Food Nutrition Board's (FNB) September 2002 recommendations on Dietary Reference Intakes for Energy, Carbohydrate, Fiber, Fat, Fatty Acids, Cholesterol, Protein and Amino Acids which suggests that 'not more than 25 per cent of total calories should come from added sugars'.

Also recent research from the USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion concludes that that sugar is not in itself associated with obesity, diabetes, coronary heart disease and hyperactivity in children and is not the sole offender in the development of dental caries.

Dr Charles W. Baker, chief science officer for the Association, presented scientific comments to WHO on the draft report in June 2002. He said: "The [WHO] report conflicts with conclusions of a number of other major expert committees with a broader emit to review all aspects of diet and health that have been reported in the last few years."​

Keelor suggested that media reports have confused the public by sensationalizing such opinions and labeling them as consumer guidelines and there is also confusion over the term sugar. According to the Association, 'sugar' is sucrose, found in natural sugar cane and sugar beets while 'sugars' is a generic term meaning all other caloric sweeteners, including high fructose corn syrup found primarily in American soft drinks."

The Grocery Manufacturers of America also objected to the 'overemphasis on sugars', although it presented different reasons. "The report claims that 'added sugars' impact our health differently than naturally-occurring sugars -- which makes little nutritional sense for consumers. To realistically meet its goal of reducing obesity, the WHO should emphasize that individuals balance their total caloric intake with physical activity in order to develop and maintain a healthy lifestyle -- and not focus on excluding certain foods from our diets."​

The final report is due to be released in April 2003.