There has been recent derogatory comments about Western diets on Lactnet.
I find these blanket statements to be as useful as lumping all African
culture into one category.  Anyone who has traveled in more than one
country in Africa can tell you there is tremendous diversity.

I have worked for more than 20 years in developing countries and have a
doctorate in International Nutrition.  There is NO PERFECT diet that is
appropraite for everyone. I can attest to the fact that there is tremendous
diversity among non Western diets, many of which lead to the type of
malnutrition that results in infant mortality rates ranging from 100 to 300
deaths per 1000 live births.  The tremendous diversity of foods people have
in "Western" cultures means that there is a similar diversity of dietary
patterns, some of which are more healthful than others.

One can find evidence of health problems associated with almost every type
of "TYPICAL" diet.  My hope is that as nutritional science progresses we
will continue to improve our recommendations on the appropriate composition
of the diet for stages of the life cycle (e.g. we know that the nutritional
needs of infants and young children are different from adults) as well the
appropriate composition of specific diets for individuals that happen to
have sensitivities or genetic tendencies towards particular health
conditions.

I would really hope in the future that Lactnetters be more specific about
the NUTRIENTS or better yet FOODS that could be missing or low rather than
making such blanket statements about "Western" or "NonWestern" diets.


Susan E. Burger, PhD, MHS

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