794 



It is essential that the diet contain enough protein ; it is also essen- 

 tial that the protein consist of an approximate balance among the 

 eight amino acids essential for humans: isoleucine, leucine, lysine, 

 methionine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, threonine, and valine. These 

 amino acids must be supplied through food intake, as they are not 

 manufactured by the body. 



IIIGH-PROTEIN FOODS 



Foods which best supply essential protein are animal products — 

 meat, poultry, fish, cheese, and eggs. Animal protein in general con- 

 tains a proper balance of the essential amino acids. Plants are less 

 satisfactory as sources of protein, because they do not synthesize and 

 store balanced proportions of the different amino acids. However, ap- 

 proximately five-sixths of the world's population has to obtain its pro- 

 tein supply from plants — ^that is, from the cereal grains wheat, rice, 

 and corn. 



Table 3. — Protein content of selected food staples 

 Food staple Protein content 



Pulses: (percent) 



Lentils 24. 7 



Chickpeas 20. 5 



Wheat (hard red spring) 14. 



Sorghum _ 11. 



Wheat (soft red winter) 10. 2 



Com - - 8. 9 



Rice .: 7. 5 



Potatoes _ - 2. 1 



Sweet potatoes 1 • 7 



Bananas 1-1 



Cassava 6 



'Bemice Watt and Annabel Merrill. "The Consumption of Foods" (Washington, U.S. Department of Agri- 

 culture, 1963), pages 6e-67. 



Animal foods are costly to produce, costly to transport, and difficult 

 to preserve in tropical climates. Of tne 25 million tons or so of high- 

 quality animal protein available annually, most is consumed by the 

 one-sixth of the world's population that lives in the prosperous, devel- 

 oped world. In consequence, more than 300 million children in the 

 LDCs are exposed to threat of retardation in their physical and mental 

 growth and development.'® AVhen these children become adults, their 

 potential may have already been blighted by malnutrition. Many con- 

 tract kwashiorkor, a protein-deficiency disease that strikes children 

 particularly, but also assails other vulnerable groups — pregnant 

 women, nursing mothers, and the elderly. Severe kwashiorkor tends to 

 be fatal : even a mild case may weaken the child to the extent that otlier 

 normally-minor diseases, like gastro-intestinal infections or whooping 

 cough, can be fatal. The irony of kwashiorkor is that those afflicted 

 may have had enough to eat, in terms of calorie intake, but not enough 

 essential protein. 



EASING THE SHORTAGE OF PROTEIN 



To deal with the persistent shortage of protein in the LDC diet many 

 alternative approaches are offered. The U.S. began this effort during 

 World War II by supplying surplus dry milk powder, first to tlie 



•■» UnitCii Nations. Economic and Social Council. "Report of the Advisory Committee 

 on the Application of Science and Technology to Development." (New Yorlc, 1968.) 



