Active Low-Carber Forums - View Single Post - Cancer diet book author must remove claims from website

Quote:

From The Times
London, UK
5 May, 2017

Cancer diet book author must remove claims from website

An advertising watchdog has upheld a complaint against two websites run by a nutritional therapist that offered advice on a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet for cancer patients.

The Advertising Standards Authority of Ireland (ASAI) ordered Patricia Daly, who wrote The Ketogenic Kitchen with Domini Kemp, the restaurateur, to remove claims over the efficacy of the diet in relation to cancer until she had appropriate evidence to substantiate the claim.

The ruling followed a complaint brought by the Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute (INDI), supported by the Irish Cancer Society, about www.patriciadaly.com and www.ketoforyou, which are run by Ms Daly.

The ASAI said that the content relating to the ketogenic regime, which advocates a high-fat, adequate protein and low-carbohydrate diet, was “likely to mislead consumers and vulnerable cancer patients in particular”. The advertising regulator also said that it had not seen any evidence that Ms Daly’s qualifications were regulated by a statutory body recognised by the Irish state.

Jennifer Feighan, the INDI chief executive, said that the institute, which is the only professional body for registered dieticians in Ireland, made the complaint to protect patients.

“The claims made for the ketogenic diet and its benefits to people with cancer are misleading and unsubstantiated. In this case they have also been made by a person who is not suitably qualified to offer dietary advice to people affected by cancer,” Ms Feighan said.

Robert O’Connor, head of research at the Irish Cancer Society, expressed concern over “a growing tide” of unqualified individuals who promoted advice on diet and medicine that were not backed up by evidence.

“At best they can be a costly distraction, at worst they have the potential to do huge harm to the most vulnerable in our community,” Dr O’Connor said.

“We urge those who have concerns about diet and cancer to speak to their doctor or to a qualified medical professional and not to be taken in by unsubstantiated lifestyle advice from websites or media.

“The evaluation group report for the 2006 National Cancer Strategy recommended greater investment in the provision of qualified professionals, including dieticians, working as part of multi-disciplinary teams focused on overall best patient outcome. Today’s ruling demonstrates the urgent need for such investment.”

Last May The Times reported that Ms Daly trained and lectured at the privately owned, Bray-based Irish Institute of Nutrition and Health (IINH). It said at the time that its programmes had been “rigorously inspected, audited and approved by” Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI), the state body to which private providers can apply to have their programmes validated. QQI, however, said that this was incorrect and that the IINH was not then offering programmes leading to awards it recognised.

On one of Ms Daly’s websites she said: “I have a problem, for instance, when health practitioners or doctors state that they didn’t take a specific therapy into consideration because they’re waiting for the randomised placebo-controlled trials to advise clients.” She added that there were various reasons she felt “uncomfortable with this 100 per cent evidence-based approach”.

In its ruling the ASAI said that it was “concerned by the absence of appropriate levels of authoritative, recognised and compelling research on human clinical trials. In addition, the advertiser, while providing a range of information, had not, as requested, demonstrated how the material submitted supported the advertising claims made”. It instructed Ms Daly not to offer any advice or treatment for serious conditions without holding an appropriate qualification.

The INDI submission was made with the support of several experts in the area of oncology, medicine and nutrition. They included Graham Love, chief executive of the Health Research Board at the time; Derek Power, a consultant oncologist at Mercy University Hospital, Cork and Gerard Crotty, a consultant haematologist at the Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore.

Ms Daly told the ASAI that her websites were aimed at audiences abroad and that 80 per cent of users were outside Ireland. She charges in US dollars for her online services. The Ketogenic Kitchen was published by Chelsea Green in Vermont in the US last autumn.

Margo Baldwin, president and co-founder of Chelsea Green, said: “I think this is ridiculous. The leading-edge science is showing the promise of ketogenic diets in the treatment of cancer and many other serious diseases and there are many many books out now that say the same thing by very respected doctors and other health practitioners here in the US and in the UK.”

Attempts to reach Ms Daly for a comment yesterday were unsuccessful.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/...bsite-ft5wbdlfh