MEDIA RELEASE - 14 MAY 2010
WHILE NHMRC FIDDLES WITH AUSTRALIANS’ HEALTH, ROME IS COMING TO SAVE US
THE National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC) -- the Federal Government’s peak health research advisory body -- has been accused of potentially putting the health of Australians at risk.
This follows release of a draft report prepared for the NHMRC recommending Australians eat seafood just once a week -- not twice or more, as widely recommended by Australian and international health experts.
Industry spokesman Mr Roy Palmer said the draft recommendation is based not of health grounds -- the report acknowledges seafood has numerous health benefits -- but because of concerns over @@sustainability of stocks”.
@@The seafood industry is furious over the draft recommendation and a number of health researchers have also privately expressed their strong concern to me,” he said.
@@NHMRC should focus on the good health of the Australian community and allow fisheries managers and scientists to look after the health of fish stocks,” Mr Palmer said. @@NHMRC is way out of its depth here.”
Mr Palmer said the suggestion Australians should eat seafood just once a week goes directly against the tide of opinion from government and independent health researchers worldwide -- and even flies in the face of United Nations Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations.
@@The saying used to be that Nero fiddled while Rome burned but now it’s a case of NHMRC fiddling with Australians’ health while Rome comes to save us,” Mr Palmer said. @@Experts from the FAO headquarters in Rome are heading to Melbourne in November for the 2010 International Seafood & Health Conference and they will be discussing their strong recommendations on eating seafood for health.”
Mr Palmer said the NHMRC seemed to have forgotten it is supposed to be the country’s leading expert body promoting the development and maintenance of public and individual health standards.
@@With their recent draft report you would have to wonder what they are doing. They raise ‘environmental concerns’, and yet Australia’s fishery management regimes are internationally praised for their sustainable approach.
@@To make this issue even more confusing, I have just been to a major European seafood show promoting Australia’s sustainable fisheries credentials and supported by the Australian Government,” said Mr Palmer, who is Executive Officer of the national industry promotion body, Seafood Experience Australia (SEA).
@@Fortunately, the FAO and WHO in Rome some time ago established an Expert Consultation Committee to discuss the Risks and Benefits of Fish Consumption. They strongly recommend all member states (includes Australia and New Zealand) of Codex Alimentarius Commission should:
- acknowledge fish consumption as an important food source of energy, protein, and a range of essential nutrients and part of the cultural traditions of many peoples;
- emphasise the benefits of fish consumption on reducing Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) mortality (and CHD mortality risks of not eating fish) for the general adult population;
- emphasise the neurodevelopment benefits to offspring of fish consumption by women of childbearing age, pregnant women, and nursing mothers, and the neurodevelopment risks to offspring of such women not consuming fish;
- develop, maintain, and improve existing databases on specific nutrients and contaminants in fish consumed in their region; and
- develop and evaluate risk management and communication strategies that both minimize risks and maximize benefits from eating fish.
@@The background, scope, conclusions and recommendations of the FAO report will be the subject of FAO involvement at the International Seafood & Health Conference and The Wonders and Opportunities of the Ocean Exposition to be held in Melbourne 6-10 November, 2010. (See www.seafoodhealthconference.com .)
@@SEA, along with Seafood Services Australia Ltd, is hosting these events. Sponsored by the Victorian Government, the FAO has seen the value of this event by making this a key meeting for the promotion of the Risks and Benefits of Fish Consumption,” Mr Palmer said.
@@The Conference has attracted many of the world’s leading authorities on issues covering every area of health from pre-birth to old age, food security and sustainability and human behaviour and communication.
@@The Australian Government has recently made some positive moves regarding the health of its people but, in areas where simple dietary advice can save peoples’ lives, we are well behind. Government continues to work around industry instead of working with industry.
@@For example, the Department of Health & Ageing (DHA) is spending taxpayers’ dollars on advertising, such as the $30 million ‘Measure-Up’ campaign and have not engaged with our industry, despite our many requests. There appears to be an elitist view among some bureaucrats that they know more about marketing and promotion than people who are involved every day at the ‘coalface’ dealing with the consumer, where there can be much value adding to the important overall messages.
@@Tony Burke, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry and Population, always talks of visiting his ‘health’ shop when purchasing his seafood, so he has recognised that seafood is more than just protein on a plate.
@@Unfortunately, the same message has not transferred to DHA and now we are getting NHMRC making judgments on opinions instead of science,” he said.
FURTHER INFORMATION: Mr Roy Palmer Tel 0419 528 733
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