Mothers conned—G.P.

Press, 14 June 1984, Page 12

Mothers conned—G.P.

PA Auckland The food industry has conned mothers into believing vitamin C helps prevent children’s colds, says a general practitioner, Dr Michael Cooper. Dr Cooper said that mothers had also come to believe antibiotics were dangerous if used frequently. These false beliefs were partly responsible for New Zealand’s low intake of high-fibre foods. “They have resulted in a huge increase in juice consumption. Unlike whole fruit, juices contain no fibre, while the sugar in juice destroys the appetite of

many children for high-fibre foods.” Two of the most nutritious fibre foods — potato and bread — had been incorrectly damned by doctors as fattening, he said. “Women greatly fear fatness. So when doctors said, ‘lf you eat potatoes and bread you will get fat,’ they gave these foods the kiss of death. “As a result, most fat New Zealanders will scarcely touch them while still remaining fat. Obviously something else is doing the damage.” Dr Cooper said people claimed that cutting down on meat and dairy foods

would make meals unappetising and boring. “Who says New’ Zealand cooking is the best in the world? Are our restaurants better than those of France, Italy, or Singapore? Of course they are not — but France has 73 per cent less premature heart disease than New Zealand, and Italy 61 per cent less.” These countries also had one-third less breast and bowel cancer than New Zealand, he said. A diet with cereals, fish, and vegetables in large quantities and meat, eggs, and dairy products in small quantities was a prescription for health.