The strange and surprising debate over how to help a malnourished kid

by Emily Sohn

Photo: Elizabeth Maidl/courtesy of Washington University at St. Louis

It used to be common knowledge: Malnourished kids need more protein to thrive. Then came a scathing paper in the Lancet in 1974 called “The Great Protein Fiasco.” Filled with sarcasm, it argued that the nutrition community’s fixation on protein was a waste of time and money.

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  • About WHES & Hunger Notes
    For the past 40 years, since its founding in 1976, the mission of World Hunger Education Service is to undertake programs, including Hunger Notes, that
    • Educate the general public and target groups about the extent and causes of hunger and malnutrition in the United States and the world
    • Advance comprehension which integrates ethical, religious, social, economic, political, and scientific perspectives on the world food problem
    • Facilitate communication and networking among those who are working for solutions
    • Promote individual and collective commitments to sustainable hunger solutions.