Readers of the Health Supplement express their views
Re: Let them eat cabbage
Health Supplement, February 5th
Dear Sir,
In response to the above article, I wish to voice my concerns about the inaccurate details and negative press Padraig O'Morain gave Home Economics in his article. I want to draw your attention to the fact that Domestic Science was replaced with Home Economics in the 1960s. The subject O'Morain refers to has long since changed.
The article undermined the role we as Home Economics teachers play in teaching nutrition and culinary skills to young people today.
I wish to make particular reference to the comment about inedible food being prepared in our classes. We pride ourselves on the variety and nutritional value of the food students prepare in class. Home Economics is one of the most popular subjects in secondary schools.
With regard to the comment O'Morain makes about males and their poor culinary skills, they generally have not done Home Economics in school. Poor male uptake of this subject may be due to provision of the subject in school and subject choice options.
I fully agree that young people need cookery lessons. This is provided in Home Economics and should be compulsory for all students. Home Economics equips students with essential life skills which include not only culinary skills but nutrition, consumerism and many more.
Young males will not be encouraged to take up Home Economics reading this article due to the misconceptions O'Morain has about the subject. I would invite him to pick up a syllabus or visit a Home Economics class to see what is actually happening in schools today.
Shirley Burchill
Re: Reader Response,
Health Supplement, February 5th
Dear Sir,
Jill Bell, president of the Irish Association of Health Stores, writes: "there is not a single reported case of any serious adverse effect caused by taking food supplements in Ireland".
I don't know whether they have been "reported" but I know of several cases in which young people suffering from severe fatigue have been advised to take over-the-counter products containing iron.
In their cases, since it later turned out that their fatigue was caused by haemochromatosis, this was the worst thing they could do. Haemochromatosis is a hereditary condition in which iron gradually builds up in the body, and causes severe damage to many organs.
To give iron supplements, some of them containing as much as 100mg of iron per capsule, to such patients is like trying to put out a fire with a can of petrol.
Dr David Sowby,
Knocksinna Crescent,
Dublin 18