SOCIAL ASPECTS OF NUTRITION 



could not develop until our knowledge had advanced to the point at 

 which the scientist could show the health officer that malnutrition is 

 a widespread health problem and that human dietary needs are suffi- 

 ciently well known for the health officer to apply adequate remedies. 

 In spite of the present lack of knowledge about the extent of the prob- 

 lem, the health officer is laying the foundation for more extensive work 

 in the field. A start has been made in almost every State, although 

 there is still no clear definition of the best method of approach or of the 

 way in which the health department can work to the best advantage. 

 The problem is made much more difficult for the health officer by the 

 fact that he recognizes that an adequate solution, involving as it does 

 education, agriculture, and food distribution, means that he must 

 cooperate with many agencies not concerned in most public health 

 problems. One of his most important duties is to determine what 

 deficiency diseases exist in his community, how many people are 

 affected, and where these people are located. He also can carry some 

 of the educational work, and his voice in pointing out the importance 

 of the problem can do much to secure action by other interested agen- 

 cies. In order to bring about the necessary coordination, nutrition 

 committees have been set up in every State, bringing together for the 

 first time the various agencies interested in different phases of nutrition. 

 These committees are wartime committees, but they should continue 

 in peacetime to form a unified approach to all aspects of nutrition 

 without which we cannot obtain a permanent correction of our diffi- 

 culties. 



While the ultimate goal of an opportunity to obtain an adequate 

 diet for everyone is still far in the future, just the recognition of its im- 

 portance and the realization that it may be obtainable and that it 

 should be a part of any plan for permanent international peace is a 

 long step toward success. Unfortunately, only a few recognize these 

 factors today. The next great forward step must be a general recog- 

 nition that the future development of the nation to a maximum of 

 health and prosperity depends on adequate nutrition for everyone. 

 Scientists can do much to make their work of the greatest use to man- 

 kind by assisting in bringing this about. 



This war has shown that great advances in nutrition and health 

 are within our reach. Gains during the war were made possible by 

 some factors on which we could not count in peacetime, but there 



