A.—l

2. That the most fundamental of these necessities is adequate food which should be placed within the reach of all men in all lands within the shortest possible time ; 3. That ample evidence has been presented revealing the existence of malnutrition in every country, with its inevitable consequences of preventable ill health ; and Recommends— 1. That the Governments and authorities here represented — (a) Immediately undertake* the task of increasing the food resources and improving the diets of their people in accordance with the principles and objectives outlined in the findings of the Conference, and declare to their respective peoples and to other Governments and authorities here represented their intention of so doing ; (b) Undertake periodically to report to one another through the permanent organization recommended in Resolution II on the state of their national nutrition and on the steps being taken for its improvement. IV. DIETS OF VULNERABLE GROUPS Whereas : 1. There are special needs of vulnerable groups, such as pregnant and nursing women, infants, pre-school and school children, adolescents, workers, and individuals receiving low incomes ; 2. Families with numerous children in low-income groups are particularly vulnerable ; 3. Social, economic, and health measures of various kinds are or should be provided for these groups; 4. Wide experience has shown that direct measures to supplement inadequate diets have been economical and fruitful; The United Nations Conference on Food and Agriculture Recommends — That the several Governments and authorities here represented undertake positive measures for the improvement of the diets of the vulnerable groups enumerated above. V. MALNUTRITION AND DISEASE Whereas : 1. Malnutrition is responsible for widespread impairment of human efficiency and for ati enormous amount of ill health and disease, reduces the resistance of the body to tuberculosis, and enhances the general incidence and severity of familiar diseases ; 2. Mortality rates in infants, children, and mothers are higher in ill-fed than in well-fed populations ; 3. Food consumption at a level merely sufficient to prevent malnutrition is not enough to promote health and well-being ; The United Nations Conference on Food and Agriculture Recommends —• 1. That the Governments and authorities here represented— (a) Initiate or continue the study of the relationship between malnutrition and impaired bodily health and vigor; and, in particular, investigate the role of inadequate food consumption in the causation of, and mortality from, all those diseases which constitute their most serious health problems ; (b) Direct their attention to the study of health and well-being and of the nutritional and related factors which are necessary to secure and maintain them; (c) Consider the most effective means of disseminating knowledge of correct feeding among all sections of the population. VI. DEFICIENCY DISEASES Whereas : 1. The progressive improvement of diets will result in better health and eventually in the elimination of specific deficiency diseases, and a great deal of unnecessary suffering could be avoided if an immediate and concerted attack were made upon them ; 2. Progress in our knowledge of nutrition makes it possible to seek out, treat successfully, and prevent the recurrence of the common diseases resulting from specific deficiencies in the diet; The United Nations Conference on Food and Agriculture Recommends — 1. That the several Governments and authorities here represented undertake immediately— (a) To ascertain the prevalence of specific deficiency diseases among their respective peoples ; (b) To deal with them by suitable dietary and therapeutic measures; (c) To take appropriate steps to prevent their recurrence. VII. NATIONAL NUTRITION ORGANIZATION Whereas : 1. A sound food and nutrition policy must be adopted by each Government if national diets are to be progressively improved, specific deficiency diseases eliminated, and good health achieved ; 2. Such a policy requires the guidance of a central authority with special competence and responsibility to interpret the science of nutrition in the light of national conditions and to propose to the appropriate authorities practical means for extending its benefits to all sections of society ;

* Obviously this is impossible for Governments whoso territory is entirely or partly occupied by enemy forces.

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