Emeritus Professor of Paediatrics, University of Peradeniya It was reported a few weeks ago that a Professor of Nutrition and his Research team had reported that consumption of coconut had harmful effects. This news item seems to have caused a scare which I believe was not the intention of the researchers. Perhaps this is not their final report on the topic. Coconut is incorporated into most Sri Lankan food preparations in many forms -grated kernel, coconut milk, coconut oil, etc. Sri Lankans get most of their energy requirements from the coconut fat; also small amounts of protein, calcium and iron, from the kernel and milk. After squeezing out the milk from the grated kernel, the left over is often thrown away, or fed to the chickens or pigs, which thrive on it. It is referred to as