Health Committee on Dec. 5th, 2017

[Dr. Hasan Hutchinson]

In the totality of evidence that's out there, I would respectfully disagree with that. Certainly, when we are looking at our dietary reference intakes, this is something where we work in partnership with our American colleagues and the National Academy of Medicine. We are not looking at that particular one right now, but those are the criteria.

I was recently at the FAO. We had people from around the world, and we were talking about the very same things. I must say that reducing carbs is not something that has been coming up from other countries around the world with respect to their reflection and what the evidence is.

[John Oliver, Liberal, Oakville, ON]

Will the RDAs be changed, then, as these new guidelines come out? Will you be looking at RDAs?

[Dr. Hasan Hutchinson]

It's actually the other way around. We work very closely to prioritize the ones where it seems like there is more evidence moving in a particular direction. Then we work with our American colleagues to get studies done and come up with the new dietary reference intakes, which we then incorporate into our guidance.

There is a whole bunch of research going on. If we see that there might be a direction that's changing, we then put together bodies of eminent scientists who will look at that and make a recommendation with respect to change in the dietary reference intakes. Then, as they change, we incorporate that into our guidance.

[John Oliver, Liberal, Oakville, ON]

Harvard Health Publishing, from the Harvard Medical School did an article—I think it was updated on August 22, 2017—called “The Truth About Fats: The Good, the Bad, and the In-between”. Again, it is this discussion around whether we have the carb-fat guidance correct. Did you come across any discussion in the research addressing carbs versus...?

[Dr. Hasan Hutchinson]

No. Obviously, as I mentioned earlier, you can go out there and find the answer you are looking for, not just about nutrition but about any part of research.

[John Oliver, Liberal, Oakville, ON]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bill Casey]

Mr. Webber, you have five minutes.

[Len Webber, Conservative, Calgary Confederation, AB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you to the presenters.

There is a lot of talk today about sugar consumption here in Canada, that there is too much sugar and we need to decrease our sugar consumption.

Dr. Critch, as a pediatric doctor caring for children and youth who consume too much sugar, would you advise them to switch to a sugar substitute, such as aspartame, in their soda beverage or in any type of food they'd like to sweeten up?

[Dr. Jeff Critch]

Typically, I would not. We certainly look at ways to get them to reduce the amount of sugar they get in their diet. When it comes to foods and beverages that are sugar-sweetened and have added sugars, we definitely see that as a source of added calories and a driver. We think of the overweight and obesity we are seeing. Obviously, it's a complex problem. It's not just one driver, but we think that this is certainly a driver.

Most times, in trying to achieve that end, our main recommendation when it comes to beverages would be water as one of the main sources of fluids.

With regard to aspartame and those components, we worry a little about the adverse effects of those. They are also sweeteners. There is a body of evidence to suggest that this can sensitize people to sweetness. My recommendation, personally, is to try to avoid those if possible.

[Len Webber, Conservative, Calgary Confederation, AB]

Mr. Hutchinson, is aspartame in the food guide at all? Is there any mention of that or concern around the digestion of aspartame?

[Dr. Hasan Hutchinson]

Yes, certainly from Health Canada.... Aspartame is a regulated product and has certainly been deemed safe for use. I was thinking of the comment that was just made in terms of the palate. There's certainly a lot of evidence from a sodium perspective that when you have it, you're searching more for it as well. I don't think we have a solid evidence base on that, so I don't really declare on that in any way.

[Len Webber, Conservative, Calgary Confederation, AB]

I do consume a bit of aspartame daily in my diet and I've often Googled it and Google says I'll get a brain tumour one of these days.

As a dietitian, Madam Savoie, would you consume aspartame? Would you advise your clients to?

[Nathalie Savoie]

Our member dietitians work in a one-on-one relationship with their patients and they may recommend aspartame-sweetened products for a particular person if they feel that perhaps they're drinking a lot of pop and it would be better for them to reduce. It may be part of the considerations, and as Dr. Hutchinson said, it is safe.

However, in terms of a general public recommendation, it is true that it encourages the sweet taste and perhaps there are better options for drinking. Water and milk are certainly better options.

[Len Webber, Conservative, Calgary Confederation, AB]

Would you drink aspartame?

[Nathalie Savoie]

I don't like the taste.

[Len Webber, Conservative, Calgary Confederation, AB]

Mr. Hutchinson, would you take aspartame?

[Dr. Hasan Hutchinson]

I don't, but that's neither here nor there.

[Len Webber, Conservative, Calgary Confederation, AB]

I have one final question.

Dr. Critch, would you consume aspartame?

[Dr. Jeff Critch]

I don't on a regular basis, but again, I don't particularly like the taste.

[Len Webber, Conservative, Calgary Confederation, AB]

I'm going to quit consuming aspartame after listening to the three of you anyway.

[Dr. Hasan Hutchinson]

When I say that, I just want to be clear that this is not me as Health Canada saying that this is unsafe. It is safe. We have not found any study.... Again, don't misinterpret me.

[Len Webber, Conservative, Calgary Confederation, AB]

Maybe I don't have to, then.

[Nathalie Savoie]

I'll just add that on the Internet you'll find a lot of pseudo-science and I think the connection with brain tumours may be just that. I'm quite positive that it is safe in a normal amount.

[Len Webber, Conservative, Calgary Confederation, AB]

Good to know. Thank you.

[Dr. Jeff Critch]

I would echo that.