Madam, - I refer to Victoria White's letter of March 25th in which she criticises the Nutrition and Health Foundation.
Anyone with a genuine concern for the growing levels of obesity should instead welcome this newly established initiative. The foundation was set up with the objective of providing consumers with evidence-based information to help them achieve healthier diets and a more active lifestyle.
For this to be both credible and of lasting value to Irish society, there must be a co-ordinated and cohesive effort from internationally recognised scientists, health professionals, the State and its agencies, the food industry as well as from consumers themselves. That is what this foundation is doing.
In addition, our partnership approach has been widely welcomed within European circles. On this basis I challenge Ms White's criticism of this endeavour to provide independent, well-researched information to consumers in Ireland.
Incidentally, Ms White referred to Kate Holmquist's article on childhood obesity (Weekend, March 19th) which implied that the Nutrition and Health Foundation has taken a position on the advertising of "junk food" to children. This is both untrue and misinformed. The foundation has no mandate to defend the food industry, as to do so would be to compromise our own integrity and that of our partners, a relationship we value very highly and one which is central to the ethos of the foundation.
The Nutrition and Health Foundation would welcome comment from any individual or group to the address below. - Yours, etc.,
Dr LOUISE SULLIVAN, Manager, Nutrition and Health Foundation, Lower Baggot Street, Dublin 2.