The effect of a supplementary multipurpose food on the growth and nutritional status of schoolchildren.

Dietary and clinical surveys carried out in India, Africa and in several countries elsewhere, in Asia and South America, have shown that the diets of large numbers of people are deficient in many essential nutrients such as proteins, vitamins and minerals (Patwardhan, 1952; Autret & Behar, 1954; Gopalan & Ramalingaswami, 1955 ; Brock & Autret, 1952). Protective foods such as milk, eggs, fish and meat are not available in sufficient quantities in these countries and the prospects of increasing their production in the near future are poor (Autret & van Veen, 1955). Considerable attention has recently been devoted to evolving Supplementary foods from indigenous resources for improving the health of the vulnerable groups of the population (Autret & van Veen,