WHO-report: cardiovascular mortality vs CAP

WHO-published research study: Estimating the cardiovascular mortality burden attributable to the European Common Agricultural Policy on dietary saturated fats

A new study in the Bulletin of the World Health Organisation seeks to quantify the impact of CAP subsidies for dairy and meat commodities on cardiovascular mortality. They estimate that these subsidies led to approximately 9800 additional CHD deaths and 3000 additional stroke deaths within the EU, half of them premature. The study notes that these results were robust in the sensitivity analysis and were very conservative estimates, assuming a 1% reduction in saturated fat energy intake, rather than the 5% and 7% observed in Finland and Poland. For more information see http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/86/7/08-053728/en/index.html .

Another article could respond by arguing that the CAP has contributed to the avoidance of x numbers of victims of anaemia/calcium deficiency/Vit B12 deficiency…

For a discussion of the benefits and disbenefits of livestock products in our diet (in the context of climate change) see the FCRN livestock report pp 86-98 http://www.fcrn.org.uk/frcnResearch/index.htm

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