American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 8, 875-884, Copyright © 1960 by The American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc.

Diet and Health of a Group of African Agricultural Workers in South Africa

¹ From the Department of Social, Preventive and Family Medicine, University of Natal, Durban, Union of South Africa

The diet of a group of male African agricultural workers in South Africa contains an excessive amount of maize and inadequate amounts of milk, animal tissues, fruit and vegetables. It is deficient in a number of essential nutrients. A limited variety of dishes is served, and food hygiene is poor.

There is a high prevalence of skin and mucosal lesions, of a type consistent with a predominantly maize diet. The men tend to be light and lean by comparison with urban Africans and various other groups.

There is evidence of a deterioration in the men's nutritional state after two months' employment. There is also evidence of weight gain after enlistment, with subsequent weight loss.

The morale of the men is low; this is apparently partly related to their unsatisfactory diet. Limited evidence is found of an association between morale and nutritional state, and none of an association between productivity and nutritional state or morale. It is considered, however, that dietary changes could usefully initiate a more comprehensive program designed to improve morale and productivity.