Thread by @fleroy1974

‼️📢 The #GlobalBurdenOfDisease (GBD) study is used globally in health policies. Very odd things are going on, incl. the assumption that every bite of red #meat is harmful (?!) In this letter to The Lancet 👇 we are asking to see the evidence. thelancet.com/journals/lance…

We were told that the GBD/IHME scientists were initially committed to respond to our questions but they seem to have changed their minds. No response was submitted, despite requests from The Lancet’s Editorial Team to do so 🤔

This is what GBD now assumes to be the effect of red meat intake on all-cause mortality relative risk, having effectively reduced the theoretical minimum risk exposure level (TMREL) of red meat to ZERO !?! healthdata.org/results/gbd_su…

To the best of our knowledge, the new GBD data contradict the available evidence from major studies. The result of all this: by comparison with previous 2017 estimates, the new GBD 2019 estimates of deaths attributable to unprocessed red meat intake have increased 36-fold 😱

This is extremely worrying & needs a serious discussion, given that GBD is a key reference for health policies & is used in a vast amount of scientific articles. Note that GBD's first author, C. Murray, is listed as senior author on the EAT-Lancet report. thelancet.com/journals/lance…

Until the underlying evidence is published after independent peer review, it would be highly inappropriate & imprudent for the GBD 2019 dietary risk estimates to be used in any national or international policy documents, nor in any regulatory nor legislative decisions.

If the public health message advising moderate red meat intake as part of a healthy balanced diet is replaced by the message that *any* intake is harmful, this may adversely affect iron deficiency anaemia, sarcopenia, child & maternal malnutrition, ... abc.net.au/news/2021-08-1…

These conditions are *already* responsible for considerably greater global disease burdens than a diet high in red meat (particularly in low- & middle-income countries). WHY isn't that factored in when estimating the "global burden of disease" of red meat? usnews.com/news/health-ne…

GBD is based out of the Institute for Health Metrics & Evaluation (IHME).
Now pay attention ‼️: @WHO & IHME signed a memorandum of understanding in 2018 to "strengthen collaboration on the global burden of disease & enhance policy use of GBD findings" 🤔
euro.who.int/en/data-and-ev…

Behold who's also interested in GBD, throwing millions at it...
"We're thankful for this generous grant, which demonstrates the Gates Foundation's high level of trust and confidence in IHME to deliver unsurpassed work on the world's health challenges"
gatesfoundation.org/Ideas/Media-Ce…

And simultaneously:

With WHO & philanthrocapitalism being part of this, the GBD vilification of red meat is not to be seen as a merely technical & academic issue. This will have major repercussions on global diets & health, if left unchallenged.

We need to see the evidence. thelancet.com/journals/lance…