Protein problems in Bangladesh

Abstract

The food consumption data of the 1962–64 Survey of Bangladesh were examined in the light of the latest recommendations of FAO/WHO for energy and protein. It was found that on average there was an energy deficit of 10.7 percent at the retail level and an excess of protein of the order of 7 percent at the safe level of intake. Energy deficiency was found in 13.8 percent of households. The incidence of protein deficiency rises from 12.3 percent to 26.1 percent when households with energy deficiency are taken into consideration. Protein deficiency as such is present only in 0.8 percent of the households compared with 11.5 percent of the households which are deficient in both protein and energy. The magnitude of deficiency of protein as well as of energy which results from maldistribution of food within the household has not yet been quantitated. The cultural emphasis that women must be the last to partake of the food prepared in the house and that the children also share the same food as prepared for the adults are considered to contribute substantially to the overall picture of inadequate protein nutriture of women and children in Bangladesh. In view of the above findings it is suggested that unless energy need is met and the cultural barrier now militating against meeting nutritional demands of women and children is broken through education, the increased supply of protein food alone will not solve the protein problem of Bangladesh.