“Every last shred of evidence”: Why low-fat dietary guidelines should never have been introduced
When the US government introduced “Dietary Goals for the United States”, they did not have unanimous support. The guidelines, which urged the public to cut saturated fat from their diet, were challenged by a number of scientists in a Congressional hearing. The findings were not based on sufficient evidence, they argued.
They were ignored. Dr. Robert Olson recounts an exchange he had with Senator George McGovern, in which he said: “I plead in my report and will plead again orally here for more research on the problem before we make announcements to the American public.” McGovern replied: “Senators don’t have the luxury that the research scientist does of waiting until every last shred of evidence is in.”
And so, backed by a questionable base of evidence, the guidelines were implemented, triggering one of the most complex and controversial scientific debates of the last three or four decades.
Full article here: http://www.diabetes.co.uk/in-depth/every-last-shred-evidence-low-fat-dietary-guidelines-never-introduced/
God knows what Sid's going to make of this because Zoe actually makes money from books and in Sid's eye's that makes her a very bad person