FAO/WHO RELEASE OF EXPERT REPORT ON DIET,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ROME 001728 SIPDIS FROM FODAG STATE PLEASE PASS TO HHS FOR VALDEZ AND STEIGER STATE FOR IO/EDA WINNICK AND KOTOK, IO/T FOR BLACKWOOD USDA/FAS FOR REICH AND HUGHES MEXICO CITY FOR BRAKEL GENEVA FOR HOHMAN E.O. 12958: N/A UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 02 ROME 01728 01 OF 03 231431Z TAGS: AORC EAGR EAGR EAGR ETRD FAO ETRD AORC FAO ETRD AORC FAO SUBJECT: FAO/WHO RELEASE OF EXPERT REPORT ON DIET, NUTRITION AND PREVENTION OF CHRONIC DISEASES ¶1. SUMMARY. THE DIRECTORS GENERAL OF THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO) AND THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION (FAO) PRESIDED OVER THE 4/23 RELEASE OF THE WHO/FAO EXPERT CONSULTATION REPORT ON DIET, NUTRITION AND PREVENTION OF COMMUNICABLE DISEASES. BOTH DIRECTORS GENERAL EMPHASIZED THAT THE REPORT WAS JUST THE BEGINNING OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF A GLOBAL STRATEGY AND EXPRESSED CONFIDENCE IN THE REPORT'S SOUND SCIENTIFIC BASIS. FAO DIRECTOR GENERAL DIOUF STATED THAT THE FAO GOVERNING BODIES WOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THE REPORT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. CONCERNING THE CONTROVERSIAL SUGAR RECOMMENDATION, DIOUF SAID THAT THE ISSUE "HAD BEEN TAKEN OUT OF CONTEXT" AND NOTED THAT THE RECOMMENDATION WAS NOT A "STANDARD TO BE REGULATED." IN ANSWER TO A QUESTION FROM THE PRESS, WHO DIRECTOR GENERAL BRUNTLAND SAID THAT SHE HADN'T SEEN SUCH A "STRONG AND MISDIRECTED" RESPONSE (FROM THE SUGAR INDUSTRY) SINCE THE "TOBACCO INDUSTRY WAS ON THE MOVE." AMBASSADOR TONY HALL'S PRESS RELEASE, ISSUED THE SAME DAY, EXPRESSED U.S. COMMITMENT TO ADDRESSING THE GLOBAL NEED FOR IMPROVED DIETS AND INCREASED PHYSICAL ACTIVITY TO FIGHT PREVENTABLE CHRONIC DISEASES, BUT STATED THAT THE WHO/FAO REPORT FELL SHORT OF PRESENTING THE COMPREHENSIVE BODY OF EVIDENCE AND RIGOROUS CONCLUSIONS NECESSARY TO SERVE AS A BASIS FOR WHO AND FAO POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS. END SUMMARY. ¶2. THE DIRECTORS GENERAL OF WHO AND FAO PRESIDED OVER UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 ROME 01728 01 OF 03 231431Z THE 4/23 RELEASE OF THE WHO/FAO EXPERT REPORT ON DIET, NUTRITION AND PREVENTION OF COMMUNICABLE DISEASES AT FAO HEADQUARTERS IN ROME. MS. SHIRIKI KUMANYIKA, VICE-CHAIR OF THE EXPERT CONSULTATION, PROVIDED A SHORT OVERVIEW OF THE REPORT. SPEAKING TO AN AUDIENCE OF FAO STAFFERS, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVES AND THE MEDIA, WHO DIRECTOR GENERAL (DG) BRUNTLAND STATED THAT CHRONIC DISEASES CAUSED 40 MILLION PREMATURE DEATHS PER YEAR AND THAT DISEASES SUCH AS OBESITY AND DIABETES WERE NO LONGER A "RICH COUNTRY PROBLEM." THE EXPERT REPORT ON DIET, NUTRITION AND PREVENTION OF CHRONIC DISEASES CONTAINED THE "BEST CURRENTLY AVAILABLE EVIDENCE" AND WILL SERVE AS THE "SCIENCE-BASED FOUNDATION" FOR THE GLOBAL STRATEGY STILL TO BE DEVELOPED. SHE NOTED THAT MANY OF THE CONCLUSIONS -- THAT A HEALTHY DIET WAS ONE LOW IN SUGAR, SALT AND SATURATED FATS, AND HIGH IN FRUITS AND VEGETABLES -- WERE NOT NEW BUT HAD BEEN SUBSTANTIATED BY MORE RECENT RESEARCH. BRUNTLAND DETAILED NEXT STEPS FOR THE FORMULATION OF THE GLOBAL STRATEGY, INCLUDING MEETING WITH STAKEHOLDERS (INDUSTRY, NGO'S) IN PREPARATION FOR A STRATEGY TO BE CONSIDERED BY THE WHO EXECUTIVE BOARD IN ¶2004. ¶3. CONCERNING MEMBER REACTIONS TO THE REPORT, SHE REPORTED THAT A RECENT EUROPEAN REGION MEETING HAD CONCLUDED THAT ECONOMIC AND REGULATORY TOOLS SHOULD BE USED (TO IMPLEMENT THE STRATEGY) AND HAD NOTED THE IMPLICATIONS FOR ADVERTISING, MARKETING, TRADE AND FISCAL POLICIES. THE EUROPEAN MEETING HAD ALSO CONCLUDED (ACCORDING TO BRUNTLAND),THAT TRADE AGREEMENTS AND DECISIONS ON AGRICULTURE SHOULD BE ASSESSED IN TERMS OF UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 04 ROME 01728 01 OF 03 231431Z THEIR IMPACT ON HEALTH. BRUNTLAND CONCLUDED THAT SHIFTS IN DIET AND EXERCISE COULD LEAD A POSITIVE IMPACT ON HEALTH AND THAT THE EXPERT REPORT CONSTITUTED A "MAJOR CONTRIBUTION TO THIS EFFORT." ¶4. FAO DG JACQUES DIOUF CALLED THE REPORT "TIMELY" AND "SIGNIFICANT" AND A MANIFESTATION OF THE LONG COLLABORATION BETWEEN FAO AND WHO IN THE "GENERATION OF SCIENCE-BASED ADVICE." HE DISCUSSED THE PROCESS OF CONVENING THE SCIENTISTS AND SPECIALISTS TO PREPARE THE EXPERT REPORT, EMPHASIZING THEIR "INDEPENDENCE" AND "SCIENTIFIC EXCELLENCE." HE ALSO STATED THAT THE PROCESS WAS TRANSPARENT AND INVOLVED STAKEHOLDERS. IN THIS CONTEXT HE SAID THAT SOME RECOMMENDATIONS, SUCH AS THE SUGAR RECOMMENDATION, HAD BEEN TAKEN OUT OF CONTEXT. IT WAS NOT MEANT TO BE A "PRECISE SCIENTIFIC" AMOUNT, BUT THE "BEST COMPROMISE BASED ON CURRENT KNOWLEDGE WHICH WAS DESIRABLE FOR A POPULATION AT LARGE", AND WAS NOT A "STANDARD TO BE REGULATED." HE NOTED THAT MORE RESEARCH NEEDED TO BE DONE, PARTICULARLY IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES WHERE ACCESS TO ALTERNATIVE FOODS MAY BE LIMITED. ¶5. DIOUF EMPHASIZED THAT THE REPORT WAS "THE BEGINNING," NOT THE END OF THE PROCESS. THE REPORT AND THE FAO RESPONSE WILL BE PRESENTED TO FAO'S GOVERNING BODIES AS UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED PTQ3903 PAGE 01 ROME 01728 02 OF 03 231431Z ACTION IO-00 INFO LOG-00 AID-00 CEA-01 CIAE-00 COME-00 CTME-00 INL-00 DODE-00 ITCE-00 WHA-00 SRPP-00 EB-00 EXME-00 EUR-00 E-00 UTED-00 FDRE-01 VC-00 FRB-00 HHS-01 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 ITC-01 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OES-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PER-00 ACE-00 SSO-00 SS-00 STR-00 TEST-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00 EPAE-00 DRL-01 G-00 SAS-00 /011W -------------- 59F82B 231432Z /38 R 231427Z APR 03 FM AMEMBASSY ROME TO SECSTATE WASHDC 9381 USDA FAS WASHDC 2636 INFO USMISSION USUN NEW YORK AMEMBASSY MEXICO USMISSION GENEVA UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 03 ROME 001728 SIPDIS FROM FODAG STATE PLEASE PASS TO HHS FOR VALDEZ AND STEIGER STATE FOR IO/EDA WINNICK AND KOTOK, IO/T FOR BLACKWOOD USDA/FAS FOR REICH AND HUGHES MEXICO CITY FOR BRAKEL GENEVA FOR HOHMAN E.O. 12958: N/A UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 02 ROME 01728 02 OF 03 231431Z TAGS: AORC EAGR EAGR EAGR ETRD FAO ETRD AORC FAO ETRD AORC FAO SUBJECT: FAO/WHO RELEASE OF EXPERT REPORT ON DIET, NUTRITION AND PREVENTION OF CHRONIC DISEASES SOON AS POSSIBLE. FAO'S RESPONSE WILL INCLUDE AN ANALYSIS OF THE IMPACT ON CONSUMERS AND FARMERS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES. IT WILL LOOK AT HOW FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SECTORS WILL ADJUST AND THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PRODUCTS, PROCESSING AND TRADE. HE NOTED THAT THE RECOMMENDATION ON FRUITS AND VEGETABLES AND FISH HAD IMPLICATIONS FOR FAO'S WORK ON HORTICULTURE AND FISHERIES, AND "PRESENTED OPPORTUNITIES" FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES WHICH MAY HAVE A "COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGE" IN PRODUCING THESE FOODS. MEDIA QUESTIONS: ¶6. THE REUTERS CORRESPONDENT ASKED FOR COMMENT ON THE SUGAR INDUSTRY ALLEGATION THAT THE REPORT WOULD CAUSE PEOPLE TO THINK "THERE IS A HEALTH RISK TO CONSUMING MORE THAN 10 PERCENT SUGAR" AND THEIR REQUEST TO HAVE THE REPORT "REMOVED FROM THE WHO WEBSITE." MS. SHIRIKI KUMANYIKA, VICE-CHAIR OF THE EXPERT CONSULTATION, CALLED THIS REACTION "UNFORTUNATE," NOTING THAT THE SUGAR RECOMMENDATION IS A TARGET FOR A POPULATION AT LARGE, AND THAT THE RECOMMENDED AMOUNT HAD NOT CHANGED SINCE THE WHO'S LAST REPORT (1990) ON THE SUBJECT. SHE SAID THAT THE EVIDENCE BETWEEN OBESITY AND DENTAL CARIES AND SUGAR WAS "EXTREMELY WELL ESTABLISHED" AND THAT THE EXPERTS HAD NOT "MISCONSTRUED THE EVIDENCE." UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 ROME 01728 02 OF 03 231431Z ¶7. WHO DG BRUNTLAND RESPONDED THAT THE "SOLIDITY OF THE WORK IS WELL-FOUNDED WHICH MAKES THOSE "CRITICISMS UNREASONABLE." SHE SAID THAT SHE HAD NOT SEEN SUCH A "STRONG AND MISDIRECTED" MISSIVES (FROM THE SUGAR INDUSTRY) SINCE THE DAYS WHEN "THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY WAS ON THE MOVE." ¶8. A JAPANESE CORRESPONDENT QUERIED HOW THE "COOPERATION OF THE FAST-FOOD INDUSTRIES" WOULD BE OBTAINED. FAO DG DIOUF RESPONDED, "SOME PEOPLE OVERUSE FAST FOOD AND THIS HAS LED TO OBESITY, BUT IT DEPENDS ON THE COMPOSITION OF THE FOOD AND THE OVERALL FOOD INTAKE. DG WHO DG BRUNTLAND STATED THAT "FAST FOOD ONCE A MONTH, OR A WEEK WAS OK, BUT AS A DAILY ROUTINE IT WILL RESULT IN NUTRITIONAL STATUS GOING DOWN AND BODY WEIGHT GOING UP." SHE ADDED THAT DRINKING "SUGARY DRINKS" MADE THE SITUATION "EVEN WORSE." COMMENTS FROM FAO PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVES ¶9. THE PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVES OF ZIMBABWE, SPEAKING FOR THE AFRICAN GROUP, WELCOMED THE PROGRESSIVE DEEPENING OF KNOWLEDGE ON THE SUBJECT, BUT EMPHASIZED MEMBER STATE INTEREST IN "SHAPING THE AGRICULTURAL COMPONENT, PARTICULARLY HOW AND WHEN TO SHIFT PRODUCTION." SHE RECALLED THAT MEMBER STATES STILL NEEDED TO DISCUSS THE REPORT; THEY HAD A PROBLEM "HAVING THE REPORT ATTRIBUTED TO US" BEFORE IT HAD BEEN SEEN BY THE FAO'S POLICY MAKING BODIES. FAO DG DIOUF RESPONDED THAT FAO MEMBERS WOULD BE FULLY INVOLVED AND MENTIONED THAT THE REPORT WOULD BE PRESENTED TO THE FAO COUNCIL. HE ALSO NOTED THE UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 04 ROME 01728 02 OF 03 231431Z DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN "FAO EXPERT REPORT" AND AN "FAO STRATEGY" (THE LATTER BEING MEMBER-OWNED, THE FORMER REPRESENTING THE VIEWS OF THE EXPERTS). ¶10. THE AMBASSADOR OF BRAZIL ASKED WHETHER THE RECOMMENDATIONS WERE TO BECOME "STANDARDS" OR "GOALS." HE NOTED IN THIS CONTEXT THAT THE INTRODUCTORY OVERVIEW OF THE REPORT (PRESENTED BY VICE-CHAIR KUMANYIKA) HAD REFERRED TO THE ROLE OF CODEX ALIMENTARIUS. HE ASKED FOR ASSURANCES THAT "STRATEGIES" ADOPTED BY GOVERNMENTS NOT BECOME BARRIERS TO FREE TRADE IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS. DG DIOUF RESPONDED THAT CODEX WAS AN "INTERGOVERNMENTAL BODY," THAT ANY STRATEGY WOULD HAVE TO BE DISCUSSED BY MEMBERS IN THE GOVERNING BODIES AND "GO THROUGH THE NORMAL PROCESS." (DIOUF DID NOT DIRECTLY ANSWER THE QUESTION ON TRADE BARRIERS.) U.S. PRESS RELEASE ¶11. AMBASSADOR HALL RELEASED A PRESS RELEASE ON 4/23, STATING THAT THE REPORT "FALLS SHORT OF PRESENTING THE COMPREHENSIVE BODY OF EVIDENCE AND RIGOROUS CONCLUSIONS NECESSARY TO SERVE AS A BASIS FOR WHO AND FAO POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS" AND WELCOMING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR FAO MEMBERS TO DISCUSS THE REPORT IN DEPTH. THE STATEMENT UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED PTQ3902 PAGE 01 ROME 01728 03 OF 03 231432Z ACTION IO-00 INFO LOG-00 AID-00 CEA-01 CIAE-00 COME-00 CTME-00 INL-00 DODE-00 ITCE-00 WHA-00 SRPP-00 EB-00 EXME-00 EUR-00 E-00 UTED-00 FDRE-01 VC-00 FRB-00 HHS-01 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 ITC-01 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 DCP-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OES-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PER-00 ACE-00 IRM-00 SSO-00 SS-00 STR-00 TEST-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00 EPAE-00 ECA-00 DRL-01 G-00 SAS-00 /012W -------------- 59F83A 231432Z /38 R 231427Z APR 03 FM AMEMBASSY ROME TO SECSTATE WASHDC 9382 USDA FAS WASHDC 2637 INFO USMISSION USUN NEW YORK AMEMBASSY MEXICO USMISSION GENEVA UNCLAS SECTION 03 OF 03 ROME 001728 SIPDIS FROM FODAG STATE PLEASE PASS TO HHS FOR VALDEZ AND STEIGER STATE FOR IO/EDA WINNICK AND KOTOK, IO/T FOR BLACKWOOD USDA/FAS FOR REICH AND HUGHES MEXICO CITY FOR BRAKEL GENEVA FOR HOHMAN E.O. 12958: N/A UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 02 ROME 01728 03 OF 03 231432Z TAGS: AORC EAGR EAGR EAGR ETRD FAO ETRD AORC FAO ETRD AORC FAO SUBJECT: FAO/WHO RELEASE OF EXPERT REPORT ON DIET, NUTRITION AND PREVENTION OF CHRONIC DISEASES ALSO EXPRESSED THE U.S. COMMITMENT TO ADDRESSING THE GLOBAL NEED FOR IMPROVED DIETS AND INCREASED PHYSICAL ACTIVITY TO FIGHT PREVENTABLE CHRONIC DISEASES. ¶12. BEGIN TEXT OF PRESS RELEASE: THE BEST POSSIBLE SCIENTIFIC AND PUBLIC HEALTH EVIDENCE SHOULD BE THE CORNERSTONE OF THE 2004 GLOBAL STRATEGY ON DIET, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND HEALTH. I BELIEVE, HOWEVER, THAT THE WHO/FAO REPORT FALLS SHORT OF PRESENTING THE COMPREHENSIVE BODY OF EVIDENCE AND RIGOROUS CONCLUSIONS NECESSARY TO SERVE AS A BASIS FOR WHO AND FAO POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS REPORT HAS NEVER EVEN BEEN AN ITEM FOR DISCUSSION AMONG THE MEMBER COUNTRIES OF FAO. THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE THE RECOMMENDATIONS HAVE IMPLICATIONS FOR AGRICULTURE AROUND THE WORLD. THE CONCERNS EXPRESSED BY MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES FROM THE DEVELOPING WORLD SERVE TO REMIND US OF THE IMPORTANCE OF GETTING THE SCIENCE RIGHT. THE CONSEQUENCES OF DIET AND NUTRITION ADVICE - AND THIS REPORT - EXTEND WELL BEYOND PUBLIC HEALTH TO THE VERY ECONOMIC WELL-BEING OF THE FARMERS WHO PRODUCE THE FOODS WE EAT. WE WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THIS IN DEPTH AT THE NEXT FAO COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE. UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 ROME 01728 03 OF 03 231432Z SOUND SCIENCE CAN HELP GOVERNMENTS EFFECTIVELY PROMOTE PUBLIC HEALTH. A TRANSPARENT AND PARTICIPATORY DEVELOPMENT PROCESS THAT INCORPORATES A RANGE OF STAKEHOLDERS AND PARTNERS CAN HELP TO BUILD SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS AND LONG-TERM STRATEGIES. GIVEN THE COMPLEXITY OF THE ISSUES SURROUNDING DIET, NUTRITION AND THE PREVENTION OF CHRONIC DISEASES, WE BELIEVE EXPERT PEERS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING THE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH COMMUNITY, INDUSTRY, NON- GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS, AND PROFESSIONAL HEALTH SOCIETIES, WOULD STRENGTHEN THE REPORT'S FINDINGS WITH ONGOING DEBATE. SUCH DISCUSSION WOULD ALSO PROVIDE VALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS AS THE WHO, FAO, AND MEMBER GOVERNMENTS MOVE FORWARD IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF A GLOBAL STRATEGY ON DIET, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND HEALTH TO BE CONSIDERED IN 2004. THE UNITED STATES IS COMMITTED TO ADDRESSING THE GLOBAL NEED FOR IMPROVED DIETS AND INCREASED PHYSICAL ACTIVITY TO FIGHT PREVENTABLE CHRONIC DISEASES SUCH AS DIABETES, HEART DISEASE, AND CERTAIN CANCERS. OUR PASSION IS REFLECTED IN PRESIDENT BUSH'S HEALTHIER U.S. INITIATIVE, AND IN OTHER FEDERAL INITIATIVES TO PROMOTE HEALTHIER LIFESTYLES. TOMMY G. THOMPSON, U.S. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND ANN VENEMAN, U.S. SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE, HAVE MET WITH LEADERS FROM THE FOOD INDUSTRY, GROCERY MANUFACTURERS, FRUIT AND VEGETABLE GROWERS, THE SOFT DRINK INDUSTRY AND OTHER INDUSTRIES TO HELP US COMBAT THE U.S. OBESITY EPIDEMIC. END TEXT. HALL UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 04 ROME 01728 03 OF 03 231432Z UNCLASSIFIED > 2003ROME01728 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED