Guest guest Posted February 24, 2005 Report Share Posted February 24, 2005 here's the reply I got from Lindsay Allen, from that bbc article. -anouk - Lindsay Allen zurumato 2/23/2005 9:53:18 PM Re: Vegan Parent Dear Person, thank you for your thoughtful? Letter, Here are some comments that I am trying to make available to everyone in the hope that they understand better what I was trying to get across to the reporter, but which the reporter apparently felt would make her story less newsworthy. Sincerely, Lindsay AllenDue to a large amount of mail I don't have time to answer you with a long letter. Yes, I am coming from 25 years of working with populations in which micronutrient deficiencies are widespread because there are insufficient animal source foods in the diet, and mothers and children suffer major problems as a result. Nobody working in international nutrition would disagree with this - the problem is mainly poor food quality, not quantity - and if the latter is true, the former will be as well.However, I agree the link with our Africa study was not strong and we would much rather have talked about that study except that the reporter's interest was about vegans as they are more newsworthy apparently (but not in my mind for sure!). The reporters brought up the vegans comparison. The point of doing the African study is that I for one am fed up with the "let them take pills to get micronutrients" attitude that for one reason or another (well intentioned of course) has characterized the interventions in these populations for the past 20 years. I have done many of those interventions myself.The news reporter "hyped" my concern about vegan diets for pregnant/lactating mothers and infants/children by cutting the caveats that I was emphatic they keep in, namely that vegan diets were unethical UNLESS those who practiced them were well-informed about how to add back the missing nutrients through supplements or fortified foods (which people in Africa unfortunately dont' have).I completely agree that it is possible to add back those missing nutrients and myself have stated this in a position paper on nutrition in pregnancy for the American Dietetic Association. I also agree that well-managed vegan diets, plus supplements plus fortified foods to get those missing nutrients, are probably healthier for adults and even many children than the average US or UK diet. Lacto-ovo diets need less careful attention.The most alarming part of this experience has been the amazing amount of misinformation that vegans have imparted to me in response to my (definitely misinterpreted and hyped) comments. I hope this issue gets STUDIED responsibly so we can all be reassured. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 24, 2005 Report Share Posted February 24, 2005 i would be very interested to know what exactly the " misinformation that vegans have imparted " to her might be... classy way for her to get the last word. i am still awaiting my response from her. , " anouk sickler " <zurumato@e...> wrote: > > here's the reply I got from Lindsay Allen, from that bbc article. > -anouk > > - > Lindsay Allen > zurumato@e... > 2/23/2005 9:53:18 PM > Re: Vegan Parent > > > Dear Person, thank you for your thoughtful? Letter, Here are some comments that I am trying to make available to everyone in the hope that they understand better what I was trying to get across to the reporter, but which the reporter apparently felt would make her story less newsworthy. Sincerely, Lindsay Allen > > Due to a large amount of mail I don't have time to answer you with a long letter. Yes, I am coming from 25 years of working with populations in which micronutrient deficiencies are widespread because there are insufficient animal source foods in the diet, and mothers and children suffer major problems as a result. Nobody working in international nutrition would disagree with this - the problem is mainly poor food quality, not quantity - and if the latter is true, the former will be as well. > > However, I agree the link with our Africa study was not strong and we would much rather have talked about that study except that the reporter's interest was about vegans as they are more newsworthy apparently (but not in my mind for sure!). The reporters brought up the vegans comparison. The point of doing the African study is that I for one am fed up with the " let them take pills to get micronutrients " attitude that for one reason or another (well intentioned of course) has characterized the interventions in these populations for the past 20 years. I have done many of those interventions myself. > > The news reporter " hyped " my concern about vegan diets for pregnant/lactating mothers and infants/children by cutting the caveats that I was emphatic they keep in, namely that vegan diets were unethical UNLESS those who practiced them were well-informed about how to add back the missing nutrients through supplements or fortified foods (which people in Africa unfortunately dont' have). > > I completely agree that it is possible to add back those missing nutrients and myself have stated this in a position paper on nutrition in pregnancy for the American Dietetic Association. > > I also agree that well-managed vegan diets, plus supplements plus fortified foods to get those missing nutrients, are probably healthier for adults and even many children than the average US or UK diet. Lacto-ovo diets need less careful attention. > > The most alarming part of this experience has been the amazing amount of misinformation that vegans have imparted to me in response to my (definitely misinterpreted and hyped) comments. I hope this issue gets STUDIED responsibly so we can all be reassured. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 24, 2005 Report Share Posted February 24, 2005 i'm sorta wondering if writing to her is going to make any sort of impact at all..she's already bought and paid for....and old dogs find it harder to change their spots..while its good to show your disagreement and outrage with her..i be wondering if'n it might be also wise to watch for this article on our local news sources, be it the local paper, the morning news entertainment show, et al...and let the editorila page have it..because we have to (imo) let joe public know about the HUGE semitruck size holes in this so-called study of course..thats just me..and i didn't really sleep last nite so not sure if my brain is really functioning cheers fraggle teresacguerrero Feb 24, 2005 7:36 AM FW: Re: Angry Vegan Parent i would be very interested to know what exactly the "misinformation that vegans have imparted" to her might be... classy way for her to get the last word.i am still awaiting my response from her. , "anouk sickler" <zurumato@e...> wrote:> > here's the reply I got from Lindsay Allen, from that bbc article. > -anouk Kick over the wall 'cause government's to fall How can you refuse it? Let fury have the hour, anger can be power D'you know that you can use it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 24, 2005 Report Share Posted February 24, 2005 Thanks for the email link anouk. I've sent her my thoughts on the matter. , " anouk sickler " <zurumato@e...> wrote: > > here's the reply I got from Lindsay Allen, from that bbc article. > -anouk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 24, 2005 Report Share Posted February 24, 2005 , fraggle <EBbrewpunx@e...> wrote: >i'm sorta wondering if writing to her is going to make any sort of impact at all..she's already bought and paid for....and old dogs find it harder to change their spots..while its good to show your disagreement and outrage with her..i be wondering if'n it might be also wise to watch for this article on our local news sources, be it the local paper, the morning news entertainment show, et al...and let the editorila page have it..because we have to (imo) let joe public know about the HUGE semitruck size holes in this so-called study of course..thats just me..and i didn't really sleep last nite so not sure if my brain is really functioning cheers fraggle In the reply to Anuok, Linday Allen suggested that her comments had ben misinterpreted by the press (complete rubbish!), so my email to her made the suggestion that she should put right the harm she had caused to vegan parents by getting in touch with the press and addressing this. She's not going to do this of course, but it's nice to vent your spleen directly at her. I think its good to let her know the strenghth of feeling about the flawed and biased study that she has put her name to. Her in box must be overflowing I've already emailed radio stations, papers etc and many others are doing the same. Looking on the positive side of this negative study, it has been an opportunity for vegans to get our message across in the media. We don't often get the chance, so we've got to the make the most of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 26, 2005 Report Share Posted February 26, 2005 I am slightly worriewd by her reply, especially the last two paragraphs ( I also agree that well-managed vegan diets, plus supplements plus fortified foods to get those missing nutrients, are probably healthier for adults and even many children than the average US or UK diet. ) - Surely if well managed, then suppliments would not neccesarily be appropriate? and ( The most alarming part of this experience has been the amazing amount of misinformation that vegans have imparted to me in response) It is a shame she was not more specific. The Valley Vegan........ anouk sickler <zurumato wrote: here's the reply I got from Lindsay Allen, from that bbc article. -anouk - Lindsay Allen zurumato 2/23/2005 9:53:18 PM Re: Vegan Parent Dear Person, thank you for your thoughtful? Letter, Here are some comments that I am trying to make available to everyone in the hope that they understand better what I was trying to get across to the reporter, but which the reporter apparently felt would make her story less newsworthy. Sincerely, Lindsay AllenDue to a large amount of mail I don't have time to answer you with a long letter. Yes, I am coming from 25 years of working with populations in which micronutrient deficiencies are widespread because there are insufficient animal source foods in the diet, and mothers and children suffer major problems as a result. Nobody working in international nutrition would disagree with this - the problem is mainly poor food quality, not quantity - and if the latter is true, the former will be as well.However, I agree the link with our Africa study was not strong and we would much rather have talked about that study except that the reporter's interest was about vegans as they are more newsworthy apparently (but not in my mind for sure!). The reporters brought up the vegans comparison. The point of doing the African study is that I for one am fed up with the "let them take pills to get micronutrients" attitude that for one reason or another (well intentioned of course) has characterized the interventions in these populations for the past 20 years. I have done many of those interventions myself.The news reporter "hyped" my concern about vegan diets for pregnant/lactating mothers and infants/children by cutting the caveats that I was emphatic they keep in, namely that vegan diets were unethical UNLESS those who practiced them were well-informed about how to add back the missing nutrients through supplements or fortified foods (which people in Africa unfortunately dont' have).I completely agree that it is possible to add back those missing nutrients and myself have stated this in a position paper on nutrition in pregnancy for the American Dietetic Association. I also agree that well-managed vegan diets, plus supplements plus fortified foods to get those missing nutrients, are probably healthier for adults and even many children than the average US or UK diet. Lacto-ovo diets need less careful attention.The most alarming part of this experience has been the amazing amount of misinformation that vegans have imparted to me in response to my (definitely misinterpreted and hyped) comments. I hope this issue gets STUDIED responsibly so we can all be reassured.To send an email to - Peter H Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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