Well-known Irish business moguls, David and Stephen Flynn, have today apologised for releasing a video featuring "not appropriately qualified" information on the vegan diet and its link to cancer prevention.
The Happy Pear twins released a statement of apology acknowledging that some of the content of the video may have "caused offence".
In the short snippet, the Irish company claimed that some of the main risk factors for cancer included high levels of saturated fats, dairy products, and animal products in the diet.
It also claimed that “mushrooms reduce your risk of breast cancer" and that you should "eat soy products two to three times per day.”
A number of medical professionals slammed the clip's information regarding it as "misleading and irresponsible".
Dr. David Robert Grimes, a Cancer researcher took to Twitter and said: “Diet and cancer is complicated, and modifiable risk from diet less than you might think.
“Not helpful when wellness "influencers" like Happy pear implicitly blame breast cancer on diet, needlessly shames patients.”
Dr Liz O'Riordan, a breast surgeon specialising in Breast cancer also responded saying: “Don’t believe everything you see.
“This video by The Happy Pear says that mushrooms reduce your risk of getting breast cancer. This is NOT true.”
After widespread backlash online, the twins issued an apology stating: “The Happy Pear acknowledges that some of the content in a recent post (on Instagram and Facebook) promoting an upcoming podcast with Dr Nitu Bajekal, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist from London UK, has caused offence as a few of the statements were not qualified appropriately.
“We sincerely apologise for any offence caused, it is never our intention to mislead or to misinform.
“The Happy Pear partners with many highly qualified and experienced medical practitioners and we always defer to their professional expertise and opinions.
“The Happy Pear never represents itself as a medical professional or medical expert.
“Our main purpose serves to highlight some of the health and lifestyle benefits of plant based eating. We will endeavour to ensure that this does not happen again.”
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