The status of human nutrition and agricultural productivity

The fate of American agriculture combined with the health of the American public, the subject of this article, lies in the nutritional needs of the public being responsibly met by the agricultural sector. The decline in beef consumption and fluid milk serves as a reminder to agriculture that, properly informed or otherwise, the public will eliminate from the diet those foods which have received publicity adverse to health. If agriculture is to survive, it must provide products and advertising campaigns that emphasize nutrients and minimize fats, sugars, cholesterol, and other targeted substances. These conclusions are arrived at after discussions of studies involving cholesterol, diabetes, weight control. Graphs related to disease occurrence and fat consumption are included.(jd-b)