Duties of the State in relation to the nation's food supply : research on nutritional problems / by Edward Mellanby.

  • Edward Mellanby
Date:
[1927?]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Duties of the State in relation to the nation's food supply : research on nutritional problems / by Edward Mellanby. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    relative importance of all the points raised. While such a statement would influence many people, we must not delude ourselves into thinking that it would convince any large section of the population. I can speak with feeling on this point. It is now five years or more since I pub¬ lished the fact that cereals, and especially oatmeal, will, in the absence of sufficient vitamin D, interfere most potently with calcification processes and the general health, but those who realize this are very few in number, in spite of the fact that the evidence is open to anybody to examine. Prejudice and ignorance—both absolute ignorance and ignorance of the value of the scientific method—can only be overcome by time. Another method by which the Ministry of Health could, if given the necessary authority, greatly increase its effectiveness would be to assume greater control over the feeding arrangements in all institutions run by State aid. I refer particularly to Poor Law institutions, prisons, welfare centres, and similar bodies. Sometimes the sole controlling factor in the minds of the governing bodies is the question of cost of the food, although this is by no means always the case. I do not think any local authority need fear a great increase in cost if the feeding were controlled by a wise body of experts representing the Ministry of Health. At the same time I am convinced that the results of the improved health and physique which would follow the adoption of the latest facts of nutritional science would amply repay both any possible increase in cost and any interference of the central dietetic authority. I can imagine many medical men being alarmed at the suggestion that the Ministry of Health should advise in the feeding of children at welfare centres, but I am sure from my own observations that this would be highly efficacious in many cases—again not in all, for medical attendants at welfare centres are often very alert to new facts regarding nutrition, sometimes even too alert and uncritical, especially where patent foods are concerned. One other suggestion can be made which would greatly facilitate the working of an authoritative body dealing with nutrition. I refer to the necessity of some scheme for standardizing foods and other preparations for their vitamin content. I am aware that this has recently been boldly tackled—much to their credit—by the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain in their new standardizing labora¬ tories. This attempt should be officially encouraged to the utmost extent, and, if the methods which are developed prove satisfactory, it should be as much the duty of the Ministry of Health to adopt these by legislation as it is their present duty to test foods for their purity. It ought to be impossible in the near future for people to put on the market preparations about which claims as to their vitamin content are made unless these have been officially tested.
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