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NUTRITION.
Dissemination of Knowledge.
Under the above heading information is sought by the
Ministry as to the means adopted for securing the education of
the public in the knowledge of food and dietetics.
It is clear that, however perfect may be the inspection and
supervision of the food supply of a community, unless the individual
members of families thereof take a diet sufficient in
quantity, quality and variety, the private health and therefore
the public health must suffer. Indeed, I have no hesitation in
asserting that in this Borough the bulk of the defects and
disabilities found in infancy and childhood up to school-leaving
age are, directly or indirectly, nutritional in origin. I have no
doubt that the digestive disorders of middle life are also largely
dependent on errors of diet.
Much has been said and written about disease conveyed by
milk, meat and other foods, but I can quite honestly say that
T never see them. So sound and wholesome is the food supply
in this area that food has practically ceased to be a cause of
disease in the positive sense. I do, however, see ample evidence
of disease, defective development, and poor physique, due to
want of sufficient milk, meat and other natural foods in the diet.