Dieticians attack Atkins food range

A new food range designed to cash in on the Atkins diet craze was attacked by health experts yesterday.

Atkins Nutritionals will start selling its range of low-carbohydrate, highprotein products for people on the diet in Britain next month.

But Amanda Wynne, of the British Dietetic Association, said it was yet another example of a 'fad diet taking advantage of people'. The overweight would be far better off following a good, balanced diet, she added.

'People who are struggling with their weight are very vulnerable and have problems with low self-esteem,' Ms Wynne said.

Atkins said it intended to send experts into stores to train sales staff to offer proper advice to customers.

The US company will initially sell the range through health food stores and Boots branches. It has no plans yet to stock the range in supermarkets, as it does in America.

More than 3million people in Britain and 30million in the US are said to be Atkins devotees, including stars such as Jennifer Aniston and Renèe Zellweger. But some doctors fear the diet's high-fat content and low vegetable intake could cause problems such as cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol, mineral deficiencies, effects on blood fat and long-term liver and kidney damage.

Last night, Atkins boss Stuart Trager insisted 'misconceptions' had built up around the diet, saying: 'These are bound to emerge and are propagated by those with ulterior motives or who may not be aware of the emerging science which supports our position.'