In his Correspondence (Jan 8, p 121), the UK's Secretary of State for Health, Andrew Lansley, argues that your Editorial had misleadingly implied that his policy is unduly subordinated to the agenda of the food and drinks industry. His claim is, however, difficult to reconcile with the text of his earlier policy document A Healthier Nation. In that document, Lansley and colleagues indicated that they would introduce no further regulations to control the food and drink industries, but instead would pursue only voluntary agreements. The implication of that approach was to grant the food and drink industry a veto over any policy initiatives. The analysis provided by your Editorial was therefore entirely legitimate.
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