Letter: At the heart of healthy eating

From Mr John Newman

Sir: In presenting the introduction of low-fat foods as some kind of marketing gimmick ("Too good to be true?", 24 November), Sarah Edghill has ignored one of the main drivers of this trend - namely the Government's Health of the Nation target to reduce total fat consumption to 35 per cent of energy intake.

The target was set because of the overriding need to reduce the incidence of premature death from coronary heart disease, and the medical evidence pointed to a reduction in fat consumption, together with other measures such as giving up smoking and increasing exercise as the best means of reversing this trend. Manufacturers have made a positive response by offering the reduced- and low-fat foods described.

Yours faithfully,

JOHN NEWMAN

Director

British Cake, Chocolate and

Confectionery Alliance

London, WC2

24 November