How hungry were the poor in late 1930s Britain?†

This article re-examines energy and nutrition available to British working-class households in the late 1930s using individual household expenditure consumption data. We use these data address a number of questions. First, what was extent malnutrition Britain? Second, how did incidence change over time? Third, were nutritional consequences school meals milk schemes? conclude that, for working households, availability improved significantly compared with current estimates before First World War. These improvements not equally shared, however. In 1930s, homes an unemployed head had diets that provided around 20 per cent less than their counterparts female-headed 10 fewer kcal capita average male-headed household. The most macro- micronutrients showed similar relative reductions. State interventions designed improve diet nutrition, such as milk, made children's healthier, even if they eliminate micronutrient deficiencies completely. Not surprisingly, greatest difference children where unemployed.