The alleviation of world protein shortage

Growing children, or pregnant or lactating women, need diets containing 15-20% of protein of reasonable quality. However, it is widely believed that communities living on diets containing less than 10% of protein show less energy, enterprise, and disease resistance than those getting diets richer in protein, and it is certain that most communities choose a protein-rich diet when circumstances permit. The Food and Agriculture Organization (1964) has published charts showing good correlation between income and protein intake, both when comparison is made among countries on the basis of their national average income and among communities within a country. Protein deficiency cannot be overcome simply by eating more of a low-protein diet. That would supply excess calories, and lead to obesity in adults and kwashiorkor in infants. The ratio of protein to the other components of the diet, that is, the ratio of protein to calories, or the percentage of protein in the dry matter of the diet, is the important thing.