Story of the Interdepartmental Committee on Nutrition for National Defense's North American Activities (1958-1970)

Of the 48 nutrition surveys conducted by the ICNND/Office of International Research/CDC Nutrition Programs during the years 1956-1970, 20 were performed in North America. Native Americans were surveyed in Alaska in 1958 and in Montana in 1961. In partnership with INCAP (Institute for Central America and Panama), six Central American countries were surveyed in 1965 through 1967. As mandated by Congress, 10 American states and one major city were surveyed during 1968-1970. Civilian and some military populations were included in these surveys. Teams of health, agriculture, and nutrition specialists drawn from academic institutions and from national and international agencies conducted each survey. We followed the methodology, standards, and definitions developed by ICNND in its Manual for Nutrition Surveys. Detailed findings, results and recommendations were published in a series of reports printed by the U.S. Government Printing Office. All 20 of the North American surveys found similar groups at risk of nutrition problems, including dental caries, goiter, growth retardation, female obesity, and "low" levels of hemoglobin, vitamin A, thiamin, and riboflavin. Survey recommendations followed common themes: nutrition education, nutrient fortification of food or water, expanded supplemental food programs, provision of safe water supplies, proper sanitation and food safety, and enhanced nutrient content of basic foods.