Report of the New Guinea nutrition survey expedition, 1947 / [edited by E.H. Hipsley and F.W. Clements].

  • Australia. Department of External Territories.
Date:
[1947?]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Report of the New Guinea nutrition survey expedition, 1947 / [edited by E.H. Hipsley and F.W. Clements]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    27/316 (page 23)
    The staple foodstuff is by far the greatest bulk of the food consumed, but although the average consumption of green leaves and other supple- ments is small it is nutritionally important. The natives of New Guinea have a food consumption pattern which is different from the Australian and European food pattern, both qualitatively and quantitatively. It is largely a vegetarian diet and lacks any dairy products. The quantity of meat and fish consumed is usually small. (See Diagram I). When the intake of foodstuffs is expressed as nutrients it is seen that the calorie intake is slightly lower, and the protein intake much lower than amounts recommended as desirable to ensure adequate nutrition amongst people of Caucasian origin. However, the intake of vitamins appears to be adequate. Diagram LI. COMPARISON OF THE PERCENTAGE CONTRIBUTION BY WEIGHT OF VARIOUS TYPES OF FOODSTUFFS IN THE AUSTRALIAN & NEW GUINEA DIETS. SYDNEY 1938 DATED 1947 A MOUNTAIN VILLAGE IN NEW GUINEA [__]starcuy vecetasies __[]|[][] cereALs « LEGUMES RRS GREENS ee MEAT & FISH === OTHER FRUITS & VEGETABLES lesa] MILK BUTTER & EGGS MISCELLANEOUS Although the calcium intake of the normal adult is probably well up to computed requirements it is certain that the calcium intake of children is below that usually considered desirable. In the coastal areas an ample supply of salt is available from sea water. Further inland the procurement of adequate salt presents a real difficulty and considerable labour is often expended in extracting the salt from plant ashes. It is probable that the intake of minerals other than those mentioned is adequate. In localised areas, however, the intake of iodine is deficient.