history of meals for millions, soy, and freedom from ... - SoyInfo Center

footnote 47, p. 216). This section contains a good overview
and brief history of MFM and its Multi-Purpose Food
(MPF) based on “expeller-processed presscake of the
soybean–a by-product of soy oil production, available in
abundance and at present little used for human food. The
soy cake is reduced to the consistency of corn meal and then
fortified with minerals and vitamins.” “Soy protein is
probably the most complete of the vegetable proteins. It
contains the ten essential amines [amino acids].
“Multi-Purpose Food also has the advantage of being
pre-cooked. The expeller process of production consists of
pressing the soybean in a steam-jacketed pipe at 250 to 275
degrees (F) temperature for 30-40 minutes. This reduces the
time required for cooking to about ten minutes–a factor of
convenience as well as fuel economy–when one considers
its use in refugee camps and famine areas.
“We rejoiced at the large shipment of MPF and
discovered that while it was unpopular eaten straight, it
could be added to any soup, curry, stew, goulash, dough or
batter–and made the batter better! Thank you, Florence
Rose, for the lives you have saved in India through MPF
Food.”
When the British arrived in India 200 years ago, the
population of India was 70 million. When they left in 1947,
there were 360 million–a more than 5-fold increase. The
population was once held in check by famine, disease, and
internal warfare (p. 96).
Agricultural progress in India was retarded during
British colonial rule “because the British kept India as a
producer of raw materials for British factories and a market
for its manufactured goods” (p. 103).
In Chapter 6 the section titled “Famine relief” notes:
“Ralston cereal, wheat, milk-powder, sugar, vitamin tablets,
beans, barley, corn oil, prunes, raisins, rice and Multi-
Purpose Food formed the bulk of our imports.” Multi-
Purpose Food is also mentioned (p. 106) as an important
import. Meals for Millions is mentioned (p. 153) as a
voluntary agency aiding India.
“India has had three terrific budgetary drains which
have prevented the construction of new roads, bridges or
schools. These are: (1) the annual cost of rehabilitating 7½
million people uprooted from their homes in Pakistan; (2)
The food shortage of five million tons which plus a deficit
in cotton cost the Indian government $700 million in
foreign currencies last year; and (3) the budget for defense,
i.e., the army, navy and air force” [which accounts for 45-
50% of the total national budget] (p. 186).
“India has dealt a death blow to feudalism by enacting
the Zamindari Abolition and Land Reform Act of July 1,
1952, in Uttar Pradesh in North India of which Lucknow is
the capital.” “The Zamindari system arose at the time of the
old British East India Company. The British found
zamindars already collecting taxes and converted these tax
gatherers into landowners. The zamindars became
MEALS FOR MILLIONS, SOY, AND FREEDOM FROM HUNGER 46
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intermediaries between the peasant and the government” (p.
198).
Note: Donald Ebright earned his PhD at the University
of Chicago where he was on the faculty. He was in India for
22 years during the Hindu / Muslim conflicts. He has more
than 2,000 lectures, TV and radio programs to his credit.
Address: PhD, Director, Refugees and Famine Relief (1949-
1952) of the National Christian Council of India.
97. Thrapp, Dan L. 1955. Chaplain returns from Korean
duty: Year at Taego gives priest vivid impression of ill and
underfed hordes of refugees. Los Angeles Times. March 13.
p. A10.
• Summary: In Taegu 14 out of 15 people are refugees,
fleeing the advancing Communist armies.
“Among the most effective charity programs available
to Koreans, the priest said, was the Meals for Millions
Foundation, Inc., 648 G. Broadway, which prepared and
ships a concentrate that may be mixed with any available
food–without altering its taste–or used separately as a
nourishing, strength-producing and stomach-filling
substance.”
This food is especially helpful because it enables
individuals to eat the foods they are accustomed to, but it
stretches scant supplies. Special recipes are available for
most parts of the world.
Americans can help by making donations to Meals for
Millions and other similar organizations.
98. Hills, Gladwin. 1955. 3-cent ‘meals’ aid in famine areas:
40 million portions of food made from soy beans distributed
in 9 years. New York Times. Aug. 21. p. 67.
• Summary: “Los Angeles–A campaign to end world
hunger with multi-purpose is making slow but steady
progress,” according to Miss Florence Rose, who used to be
a social worker in New York. She is now executive
secretary of the Meals for Millions Foundation in Los
Angeles.
99. Soybean Digest.1955. Multi-purpose food [in India].
Aug. p. 24.
• Summary: “A mixture of peanut, sesame and soybean
cakes is the basis for a multipurpose human food developed
by the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, according to
the American consulate general at Madras.”
100. New York Times.1955. Defeat of hunger seen in new
food. Oct. 3.
• Summary: “Miss Florence Rose, executive secretary of
the Meals for Millions Foundation, returned from a trip to
the world’s famine areas yesterday with the conviction” that
the end of hunger in our time is possible.