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This analysis examines differences in the proportion of children ages one to five whose intakes of key nutrients are substantially below the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs). Intakes of all 16 nutrients covered by the 1986 Nationwide Food Consumption Survey and Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals (CSFII) are analyzed using data published by USDA. This nationally representative household survey consists of two main subsamples: an overall sample drawing households from all income levels, and a low-income subsample. This analysis uses data from both the overall sample and the low-income subsample, and reveals that a significantly high proportion of poor children suffer from deficient dietary intakes. Compared to non-poor children ages one to five, the diets of poor children are seriously compromised in 10 of 16 major nutrients analyzed. Millions of poor American children have significantly inadequate dietary intakes. Moreover, these outcomes confirm that mild to moderate undernutrition is directly associated with insufficient household income.
Highlights:
- Millions of poor children have substandard intakes of important major nutrients.
- Analysis of government data reveals major differences in the intakes of poor and non-poor children for 10 out of 16 nutrients (food energy-calories, folate, iron, magnesium, thiamin, vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin E, and zinc).
- Between one to four million poor children have substandard intakes of several major nutrients analyzed (food energy, folate, vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin E, and zinc).
- The proportion of poor children with substandard intakes of food energy is more than two-and-a-half times that of non-poor children.
- The proportion of poor children with substandard intakes of some nutrients (e.g., vitamin A and magnesium) is nearly six times that of non-poor children.
- The proportion of poor children with substandard intakes of zinc is over 50%, for iron it is over 40%, and for vitamin E it is over 33%.
- The extent of substandard intake of nutrients among millions of poor youngsters corresponds with independent data on widespread hunger among the nation's poor children.
The data released in this new analysis provide further evidence that many children already are exposed to developmental damage associated with hunger. To weaken the very programs capable of helping them is insupportable not only theoretically, but also scientifically. These new findings bolster scientific evidence showing that a nation that fails its own children may be jeopardizing its future.
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