SYDNEY, Dec. 27 (UPI) -- The science journal Nature says Australia's CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet is "a recipe for trouble."
CSIRO, Australia's publicly funded science agency, endorsed the book, which has become a best-seller in Australia, Britain and New Zealand, The Age reported Tuesday. Claims in the book that its diet is "scientifically proven" were described by Nature as "decidedly unsavory."
Nature said the book, "which knocked Harry Potter and Da Vinci Code off the national bestseller perch, is irritating some scientists, and for good reason."
Published research indicates the diet is only helpful to "a sub-population of overweight women with symptoms of metabolic dysfunction," Nature wrote.
The controversy is heightened by the fact that the book was funded by Australia's meat and livestock industry, the Age said.
CSIRO nutritionists Manny Noakes and Peter Clifton say their diet was not influenced by the underwriters, the Age said.
While acknowledging the authors' contention, Nature said "the impression remains of a conflict of interest."
