Scare-mongering poisons food for thought

Eric Bahrt writes that I distort the position of the American Heart Association (AHA). Again he’s wrong: I wrote “Eric, can you prove the American Heart Association and other health organisations to be wrong?” I was referring to the fact that an AHA scientific statement recommends we eat meat and fish, which goes against Eric’s claim that meat is harmful. 

My arguments against Eric Bahrt have never been against vegetarians or vegans. This is a lifestyle choice for each individual. My case against Eric is his constantly stating that meat is harmful and eating it is bad for the health, which it isn’t. I am also against his use of flawed studies that he believes prove his point.

Just Google his usual sources of proof – “The China Study” and Dean Ornish – and you will find many other studies or experts have debunked these theories and diets.

Eric, our letter battles have been going on for years and they just go backwards and forwards. So let me make my position clear. Any and all unbalanced diets are bad for you, including those with too much meat. Vegetarian and vegan diets, although they can be healthy, can also be bad for you if not followed properly. But eating meat and fish in moderation is good for you and very beneficial to health, especially in growing children, and health organisations tell us this is so. Yes, you can live without meat or fish, but you don’t have to.

You can find so many studies and theories that oppose each other, and that is a problem now. You may believe vegetarian or vegan diets are healthier, but I don’t. There are theories and studies to back up both our cases, so let’s just stick to what we want. I’ve never told you to eat meat. So I say to Eric, good luck with your diet choice, but stop telling us that meat is harmful – when it isn’t – just to turn us into vegetarians or vegans.

Victor Meldrew

Bangkok