M. S. Swaminathan ¹, V. Nagarajan ¹

Affiliations
1 Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi, IN

Abstract

It is increasingly becoming evident from the food production data at global level, that the world food production is sufficient to feed the millions who are to-day malnourished, provided there is equitable distribution. It is in this context that the World Food Congress held in Rome in November 1974 passed a resolution for ensuring that by 1984 no child goes to bed hungry and no man's physical and mental capacity be allowed to be stunted due to malnutrition. This pious resolution gave hopes of international action for building up an International Food Security System. This talk of International Food Security System is not new since the concept is nearly 30 years old.

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V. Nagarajan

Abstract

This number of British Medical Bulletin has presented a comprehensive review on a wide range of problems posed by the undesirable effects of chemicals in our food and environment. The brief reviews presented by well-recognised experts in this field provide a proper perspective of the entire gamut of lurking dangers in foods consumed by common man. The seventy five page review has an admirable coverage of a variety of problems such as chemical hazards in the home, naturally occurring toxins, mycotoxins, problems through food processing and preservatives, heavy metals and water supplies, besides this, importance of analytical surveys, assessing hazards of exposure to low toxic substances, toxicological assessment of new foods and the crucial role of epidemiological studies in providing unambiguous answers in regard to the role of toxins in foods in the aetiology of some diseases in man or live-stock. There is a valuable compilation of available information on the geographic epidemiology of some of the known diseases arising from some food toxins and mycotoxins in man and live-stock.

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S. G. Srikantiah , V. Nagarajan

Abstract

Health hazards of pesticide residues in foods constitute an important public health problem. There is general agreement that malnutrition aggravates drug toxicity, and in countries where nutritional status of communities is unsatisfactory, it is important to have information on the interaction between pesticide toxicity and nutritional status.

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Y. G. Deosthale ¹, K. Visweswara Rao ¹, V. Nagarajan ¹, K. C. Pant ¹

Affiliations
1 National Institute of Nutrition, Indian Council of Medical Research, Jamai Osmania, Hyderabad-7, A. P., IN

Abstract

Bajra (Pennisetum typhoides) is an important millet crop in dry and semi-dry regions of northern and peninsular India. Both by acreage and grain production, it ranks fourth in cereal crops of India and forms a major staple food for large segments of the population. With the new strategy in agriculture and introduction of new high yielding bajra hybrids, it has now been possible to increase grain yields considerably.

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Y. G. Deosthale ¹, V. Nagarajan ¹, K. C. Pant ¹

Affiliations
1 National Institute of Nutrition, Indian Council of Medical Research, Jamai-Osntania, Hyderabad-7, IN

Abstract

The millet ragi (Eleusine Coracana) is an important staple foodgrain in central and southern parts of India. It is known to be a rich source of calcium, containing 0'3 to 0.4g per cent calcium as compared to other cereals which contain O.Ol to 0 04 g per cent.

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