Sugar Bureau

A UK industry-funded organisation set up to improve 'knowledge and understanding about the contributions of sugar and other carbohydrates to a healthy balanced diet'. It is funded principally by the sugar producers British Sugar and Tate & Lyle. Since 1990 it has financed nutrition research and produced leaflets and advertising campaigns designed to persuade academics, health professionals, teachers and schoolchildren of the health benefits of eating sugar.

People

• Richard Cottrell Director
• Hannah Theobald Consumer Communications Manager
• Alison Boyd Research Director

Alison’s interest in Nutrition and Health led her to complete an Honours Degree in Human Nutrition at the University of Ulster, Coleraine in 1993 with State Registration in Dietetics. On graduating, she pursued a career in Nutritional Research, with a doctorate at UUC. The thrust of her work centred on Diabetes, focusing on clinical and experimental studies. During this time, she presented her research at both national and international scientific conferences, and applied her skills as a Dietitian by carrying out clinical duties at the Causeway Hospitals Trust. On completion of her PhD in 1997, she was appointed Senior Dietitian at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast where she specialised in Enteral and Parenteral Nutrition, and successfully completed the PENG Clinical Update course. In 2001, she took up the post as Research Director where she now heads the Research Programme – funding scientific research in academic institutions both in the UK and Europe. She is a member of the British Dietetic Association, Nutrition Society, Diabetes UK, European Association for the Study of Diabetes, Association for the Study of Obesity and European Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition.

• Anna Wheeler Health Professionals Communication Manager

Anna graduated with a BSc (Hons) degree in Nutrition/Food Science from the University of Surrey. She spent her third year at university on a professional placement in the nutrition department of Unilever Bestfoods UK. Her final year research project investigated the effects of high and low glycaemic index foods on human lipid profiles, the results of which were presented at the Nutrition Society's Summer meeting 2003. She has been awarded a prize for professional commitment from the Institute of Food Science and Technology for her final year work. Anna is a Registered Associate Nutritionist. She is also a member of the Nutrition Society, the Institute of Food Science and Technology and the Association for the Study of Obesity. Anna joined The Sugar Bureau as a Nutrition Scientist working in the communications section in November 2003. The primary focus of her role is to communicate the scientific evidence surrounding nutrition, in both health and disease, to Heath Professionals. This is achieved primarily through articles for the Health Professional media, but also through supporting Health Professional conferences.

• Joanna Grinsted Information Manager

Jo graduated from King’s College London with a BSc (Hons) degree in Nutrition. Her final year dissertation concentrated on the incidence of obesity in the Western Pacific Islands. She joined The Sugar Bureau team in October 2003 as Nutrition Scientist. Her role is pivotal to the smooth running of the Bureau. Jo studies the scientific literature to keep abreast of the latest nutrition research, and summarises key papers for the team. The other major focus of her job is to co-ordinate the publication of the two bulletins which we sponsor – Nutrition in practice and Dental Digest. Jo is a member of The Nutrition Society; the Nutritionists in Industry Group and the Association for the Study of Obesity. She is also a Registered Associate Nutritionist.

Resources

John Yudkin 'Attack is the best defence' Chapter 21 in Pure White and Deadly Penguin, 1988.