A few months ago, a Texan study advised Americans and Europeans not to change their meat consumption. Strongly criticized, this study found itself at the heart of an incredible affair. The offending university responded by hitting back in a letter to Harvard, another university that criticized the study.
At the beginning of October 2019, a study on red meat brought a surprising conclusion . Against all current recommendations, this research published by Texas A&M University (USA) estimated that adults living in Europe and North America should not change their current consumption. Thus, three to four servings on average per week would be acceptable. In addition, the conclusion concerns red meat as much as cold cuts.
The publication in question was a summary of reviews concerning approximately 800 studies conducted around the world on the effects of red meat consumption. However, the researchers described the previously established links between cardiovascular disease and diabetes and the consumption of red meat as very weak. According to the researchers, this does not justify the current recommendations aimed at reducing consumption.
A week after the study was published, the main researcher who collaborated in the research was taken to task. This is Bradley Johnston, from the Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University (Canada). However, the person concerned had already been guilty of a conflict of interest . In 2016, the latter had led a very dubious study on the risks associated with the overconsumption of sugar.
Reviews come mainly from researchers at the famous Harvard University (USA). The latter stated in a JAMA publication (PDF in English / 4 pages) of January 15, 2020 that the study was funded by the beef lobby . In an open letter published on January 22, 2020, Texas A&M Chancellor John Sharp spoke directly to Lawrence S. Bacow, his Harvard counterpart. The person concerned complained about the criticisms deemed "unethical" and asked that these accusations be corrected. He also said the research published in October 2019 was only guided by science . Nevertheless, there is no doubt that Harvard will ignore this request, which seems unfounded.
Related Articles:
