BRITAIN'S DIET

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 263, 7 November 1945, Page 5

BRITAIN'S DIET

“LESS THAN ADEQUATE” SAYS LONDON PHYSICIAN Recd. 10 p.m. London, Nov. 6 A London physician, Dr. Franklin Bicknell, in a letter which “The Times” gives prominence, illustrated how Britain's diet is "less than adequate" and emphasises the ill effects.of prolonged malnutrition. Dr. Bicknel] says: “The Food Minister, in defending a very wise decision not to lower the British rations to further help Europe, did not sufficiently emphasise how dangerously undernourished we ourselves are. Our rations do not provide sufficient fat and animal protein for us to work efficiently and remain in good health or maintain resistance against infection.” Dr. Bicknell recalled that in 1933 the British Medical Association appointed an eminent committee to determine what was the minimum amount of food the unemployed re. quired to maintain "health and working capacity.” “This diet was pared to the bone to spare public funds,” he states. "Any less varied die. was considered inadequate because it would be monotonous, nauseous, and repugnant. The minimum amount of fats and animal protein stated to be essential were nearly double those thp present rations provide. I believe our prolonged malnutrition is the main cause of the irritation which causes unjustifiable strikes, for the community’s general fatigue and for the lack o? observation andjoglcal thought which has for nistance mafie some previously intelligent people clamour tor a further reduction in our rations. An influenza epidemic will find us overdebilitated either to withstand Illness itself or the increased work which will be thrown on thore who remain well. Doctors even now are being consulted by patients who, without any detectable illness, are genuinely so worn out that they cannot continue work. It is impossible to treat them properly as there is none of the food they require to bring them back to normal health. Absolute priority should be given to fishing and agriculture to remedy this grave crisis.”