QUITE clearly Julie Holt is not properly informed to advise or write on the subject of nutrition.

While I'm greatly relieved that she didn't tell us we SHOULD have saturated fatty dairy products in our baskets, I'm horrified that she thinks we must have meat and fish to be healthy. It is very worrying that someone with such a position of power, responsibility and influence doesn't even seem to have basic nutritional knowledge.

Perhaps she could telephone 0161 925 2000, or visit www.vegsoc.org for some advice on facts that even my friend's daughter aged six could put her straight on.

If Julie Holt ever goes to talk at a school where the children have had the benefit of talks from The Vegetarian Society, or seen the Nutritional video (with music by Moby), then she is going to look very silly. Especially if one of the youngsters asks "why Miss?" - "why do we need meat and fish in our baskets? Gorillas don't eat meat and fish do they Miss? "And they're healthy -- no Tuna in the jungle, Miss."

"Why would the Army have a Vegetarian Society Approved Ration Pack if it wasn't healthy, Miss?" "The Bantu Tribe, Miss, they don't eat meat and fish do they? And they don't get heart disease or cancer of the colon, do they Miss?

"And that famous tennis player Martina Nat ratty all over that no one could beat -- she didn't eat meat or fish did she Miss? Miss? ...are you OK Miss? Heart problem Miss?"

"Don't worry if you have to go to Hospital Miss -- The Vegetarian Society have been working with the NHS to improve the vegetarian food in hospitals -- do you know why Miss? 'Cos it's healthy Miss!......."

It's not a secret anymore -- watch out Julie, or you'll be eating you words, instead of cows, pigs and sheep.

tony@veggieland.co.uk