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

London: Allen & Unwin. vi + 362 p. See p. 80-87. Illust.
Index. 21 cm.
• Summary: This chapter, in the section titled “The
Biological Sciences,” begins:
“We have the tools and the technology to feed everyone
in the world with our present resources. And yet its been
estimated that 80 per cent of the world population normally
suffers from under-nutrition or malnutrition.
“One hears any number of explanations for this ironic
situation–but at the bottom of them all is the simple fact that
we still think of food in terms of the nineteenth century.
“As long as we persist in thinking of food in terms of
bushels of wheat, we’ll never have enough to go around. As
soon as we learn to consider food as a conveyor of essential
nutrients–and look for the cheapest and best way to get
these nutrients–we’ll find we have enough for all.”
Today, one billion people in the world need more and
better proteins. “We cannot manufacture or synthesize
protein.” So far as we can see, for a long time to come it
will have to be grown, either as animal or vegetable protein.
It is costly and inefficient to produce animal protein, which
is basically a luxury; most people worldwide can afford but
little of it. Legumes are the best source of vegetable protein.
We can make two basic changes which would help a
great deal: (1) We should use directly, as human food, much
more of the protein now grown for human consumption.
Most of it is used as animal feed or thrown away. (2) We
must teach processors and consumers to blend incomplete
proteins so that they will cover each other’s deficiencies in
essential amino acids. The resulting mixture can be
supplemented in a few cases by enrichment with synthetic
amino acids.
As an example of these basic changes Borsook
discusses briefly the development of Multi-Purpose Food,
which he had a hand in developing.
“The specifications which were given to me... ran
somewhat as follows: Three servings were to supply the
recommended Daily Allowances of protein, minerals,
Vitamins A, B-1, B-2, and Niacin. The food was to be
palatable, to blend readily with other foods when other
foods were available, to be eaten by itself when they were
not. The meal had to be quickly cooked, in not more than 10
minutes, and require only the most rudimentary cooking
equipment. It had to keep from six months to a year,
packaged in a dry state. It was to cost no more then three
cents a meal. It could not offend the religious principles of
any people. It had to be transported easily. It could not draw
on those foods which Americans eat to a large extent.
“The major ingredient chosen finally was soy grits,
with a low fat content. The soy protein was chosen because
it was the best cheap protein from a nutritional point of
view. It is cheap because it is a by-product. Soy was grown
chiefly for its oil,...” Soy grits were chosen in preference to
MEALS FOR MILLIONS, SOY, AND FREEDOM FROM HUNGER 56
© Copyright Soyinfo Center 2011
soy flour–which invites comparison with wheat flour and is
not a good substitute.
Note: All the authors and editor of this book work
together at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech).
Address: California Inst. of Technology.
129. Photograph of Clifford Clinton with his wife Nelda
(about 1957-58) in Copenhagen, Denmark. 1958.
• Summary: Touring the world. A stop in Denmark’s
Copenhagen, pictured with their luggage with hotel stickers
affixed. Clifford and Nelda had only two extensive overseas
trips which included pleasure and some visits to Meals for
Millions contacts, as well. The first was 1949-50 and the
second a few years later. In 1953 they toured Europe for
pleasure with their children and spouses.
This photo and date were sent to Soyinfo Center by
Donald Clinton, son of Clifford Clinton (Jan. 2011).
130. Soybean Digest.1959. Hafner in charge of exhibit at
Calcutta. March. p. 24.
• Summary: “Fred H. Hafner of General Mills, Inc.,
Minneapolis [Minnesota], departed Feb. 22 for India to take
charge of a soybean exhibit at a U.S. Solo Small Industries
Fair to be held March 15-April 15 in Calcutta... Hafner,
director of protein operations for General Mills’ oilseeds
division, traveled to India in the capacity of technical
consultant for the Soybean Council of America. He will
demonstrate how soybeans and soybean products can be
incorporated into the Indian diet.” A photo shows Hafner.
131. Callan, Mary Ann. 1959. Meals–Aid to millions. Los
Angeles Times. June 7. Part IV. The Family. p. 1, D. Sunday.
• Summary: A dynamic little woman, Miss Florence Rose,
operating with a small work force out of an unpretentious
office on 7th street in Los Angeles, is busy making friends
overseas for the United States. Miss Rose is the executive