Nutritional value of diets of blacks in Ciskei

This dietary study was part of a nutritional status survey carried out at the request of the Ciskeian Government to provide a baseline from which to formulate a nutrition policy. Nutrient intake was assessed by means of a 24-hour recall of food intake and a diet history, recorded for 750 subjects including children aged 6-23 months, 2-3 years and 7-8 years and lactating women. Nutrient intake was evaluated according to WHO standards. The prevalence of inadequate energy intake was high, especially among the 7-8-year-old children. For all age groups protein represented 11% of total energy intake, but was mainly of low quality. Calcium and iron intakes were low in all age groups, especially in lactating women. For all groups the most deficient vitamin was nicotinic acid, followed by riboflavin and ascorbic acid. This deficiency pattern was the result of a diet consisting predominantly of maize.