Ian Macdonald
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
Advising against cutting UK sugar intake
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 advised the government to not adopt the WHO's advice. Five of its 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 over Macdonald's past work for confectionary giants Coca Cola and Mars. Macdonald saw 'no problem' with this issue, particularly as he had stepped down from both companies' European advisory boards during the SACN inquiry into carbohydrates, including sugar in people's diet, 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
- ↑ Ian Macdonald www.nutritionsociety.org, accessed 24 February 2015
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Britain 'will not act' on sugar advice The Telegraph, 9 March 2014, accessed 24 February 2015
- ↑ Sugar intake must come down, says WHO – but UK likely to resist The Guardian, 7 September 2013, accessed 24 February 2015
