Difference between revisions of "Ian Macdonald"

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(further edits - UK expert group referred to is the same as the SACN)
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In March 2014 the British government said it would not act on the recommendation by the [[World Health Organisation]] (WHO) to cut people's sugar intake by half amid increasing concern from scientists that high sugar intake is fuelling obesity and tooth decay. <ref name= "Telegraph"> [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/news/10686201/Britain-will-not-act-on-sugar-advice.html Britain 'will not act' on sugar advice] ''The Telegraph'', 9 March 2014, accessed 24 February 2015 </ref>  
 
In March 2014 the British government said it would not act on the recommendation by the [[World Health Organisation]] (WHO) to cut people's sugar intake by half amid increasing concern from scientists that high sugar intake is fuelling obesity and tooth decay. <ref name= "Telegraph"> [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/news/10686201/Britain-will-not-act-on-sugar-advice.html Britain 'will not act' on sugar advice] ''The Telegraph'', 9 March 2014, accessed 24 February 2015 </ref>  
  
A UK expert panel chose to ignore WHO advice, opting instead to follow guidance from the [[Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition]] (SACN) which is led by Macdonald. Five of the eight members of the panel, including Macdonald, rejected the WHO advice, leading to accusations by anti-sugar campaigners of having 'worryingly close' ties with the fast food and confectionary industry. <ref name= "Telegraph"/>
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Macdonald leads the [[Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition]] (SACN) which chose to ignore the WHO advice. Five of eight members, including Macdonald, rejected the WHO advice, leading to accusations by anti-sugar campaigners of having 'worryingly close' ties with the fast food and confectionary industry. <ref name= "Telegraph"/>
  
Government officials confirmed it would be advised by SACN, although said the committee was expected to carefully consider the evidence which led WHO to make its recommendations. <ref name= "Telegraph"/>
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The controversy was further fuelled by conflict of interest accusations regarding Macdonald's past work for confectionary giants [[Coca Cola]] and [[Mars]]. Macdonald argued this not a problem as he had stepped down from both companies' European advisory boards for during the inquiry into carbohydrates, including sugar in people's diet, by the SACN for the UK government. <ref> [http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2013/sep/07/sugar-diet-who-uk-experts Sugar intake must come down, says WHO – but UK likely to resist] ''The Guardian'', 7 September 2013, accessed 24 February 2015 </ref>
  
The controversy was further fuelled by conflict of interest accusations given Macdonald's past work for confectionary giants [[Coca Cola]] and [[Mars]]. Macdonald however, stepped down from both companies' European advisory boards for the duration of the inquiry into carbohydrates, including sugar in people's diet, by the SACN for the UK government. <ref> [http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2013/sep/07/sugar-diet-who-uk-experts Sugar intake must come down, says WHO – but UK likely to resist] ''The Guardian'', 7 September 2013, accessed 24 February 2015 </ref>
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Government officials said the committee was expected to carefully consider the evidence which led WHO to make its recommendations. <ref name= "Telegraph"/>
  
 
==Notes==
 
==Notes==
 
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Revision as of 03:19, 25 February 2015

Ian Macdonald is Professor of Metabolic Physiology at the University of Nottingham and head of the newly formed School of Life Sciences in the faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences.

Background

Macdonald is a registered nutritionist who has previously worked as an adviser to large food corporations Coca-Cola and Mars.

He leads the UK Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition, is joint editor of the International Journal of Obesity, a fellow of the Society of Biology and an honorary fellow of the Association for Nutrition. [1]

Controversy

In March 2014 the British government said it would not act on the recommendation by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to cut people's sugar intake by half amid increasing concern from scientists that high sugar intake is fuelling obesity and tooth decay. [2]

Macdonald leads the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) which chose to ignore the WHO advice. Five of eight members, including Macdonald, rejected the WHO advice, leading to accusations by anti-sugar campaigners of having 'worryingly close' ties with the fast food and confectionary industry. [2]

The controversy was further fuelled by conflict of interest accusations regarding Macdonald's past work for confectionary giants Coca Cola and Mars. Macdonald argued this not a problem as he had stepped down from both companies' European advisory boards for during the inquiry into carbohydrates, including sugar in people's diet, by the SACN for the UK government. [3]

Government officials said the committee was expected to carefully consider the evidence which led WHO to make its recommendations. [2]

Notes

  1. Ian Macdonald www.nutritionsociety.org, accessed 24 February 2015
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Britain 'will not act' on sugar advice The Telegraph, 9 March 2014, accessed 24 February 2015
  3. Sugar intake must come down, says WHO – but UK likely to resist The Guardian, 7 September 2013, accessed 24 February 2015