Nutrition Societies Presidents' Forum: future challenges and opportunities for nutrition societies in the 21st century.

The Chair introduced "Pasteur's Quadrant" as a potentially useful paradigm for modern science. Developed by Princeton's Donald E Stokes, the quadrant is two-by-two matrix that classifies knowledge as fundamental and/or applied. The Chair also noted the effect of competitive pressures, and the necessity for cooperation among nutrition societies.

Biotechnology and society: we scientists have responsibilities too.

When a new technology is introduced, scientists can help improve public understanding and acceptance. In the case of biotechnology, scientists should communicate more effectively: to provide accurate scientific data to facilitate policy analysis; to clarify issues in active political debate; to explain science to the lay public to dispel general ignorance and enable rational choice; to assist the media in producing more thoughtful journalism; to share expertise to allow beneficial applications in developing countries; and to advance scientific discovery.

Fortification of the food supply with folic acid to prevent neural tube defects is not yet warranted.

The relationship between adequate folate intake by pregnant women and reduced risk of delivering infants with neural tube defects (NTDs) has raised the public health issue of increasing folate intake among women of reproductive age. The U.S.

Pediatric dietary lipid guidelines: a policy analysis.

The 1992 AAP policy of dietary fat and cholesterol restrictions in all children over two is based on incomplete evidence. The low-fat diet has never been demonstrated to be beneficial for prepubescent healthy children, and the unguided rapid implementation of numerical guidelines could lead to ill effects. Caution in the face of incomplete data was the hallmark of the 1983 and 1986 AAP Committee positions.