Origins of the Interdepartmental Committee on Nutrition for National Defense, and a Brief Note Concerning Its Demise

The Interdepartmental Committee on Nutrition for National Defense was established in 1955 after malnutrition was found common among troops of the Republic of Korea and of the Republic of China (Taiwan). The initial purpose was identification of nutrition problems among military personnel (later, and among civilians) of countries of "special interest." Surveys measured status, assisted with the establishment of nutrition resources, and facilitated investigator learning and research. A major initial accomplishment was the preparation of a manual of procedures, which evolved into the 1963 Manual for Nutrition Surveys. The first 3 surveys, conducted in 1956, were of the armies of Iran, Pakistan, and Korea. They identified poor nutrition status in some troops, provided a basis for improving rations, and confirmed the effectiveness of the methodology. These surveys were followed by surveys of 30 additional countries that in nearly all instances included civilians and provided a basis for programs and the institutions for improvement of nutrition. On August 1, 1967, the program was reorganized and the Nutrition Program, CDC, based at NIH, was created. This occurred in response to the 1967 Partnership for Health Amendments "to make a comprehensive survey of the incidence and location of serious hunger and malnutrition, and health problems incident thereto, in the United States and to report these conditions to the Congress." The Ten State Nutrition Survey was done in response. Findings of malnutrition, especially in populations of low-income states were politically unwelcome in some quarters. Consequently the program was redirected, and, according to 2 observers, the survey findings were suppressed.