Evening star., 1935-01-06
Food Consumption
In the Depression
BY HARDEN COLFAX.

PrdCJlCdlly no Change mas DeeIl Ie-
corded in the quantity of food con-
sumed in the United States during
the depression. This is the conclu-
sion reached by the Department of
Commerce food experts. who have Just
brought out a bulletin on the "ap-
parent" per capital consumption OF
the principal foodstuffs in the United
States
The Characterization apparent" is
made because the information was
obtained from market reports and,
| necessarily, does not include consid-
| Grafton of food produced at home by
individuals for their own consumption.
Figures show, in the first place, that
there has been a considerable change
in the use of certain basic food items
in this country over a period of 80
years. Flour consumption, for exam
Pile. decreased from 220 pounds per
| capita in 1900 to approximately IT'S
pounds last year. A striking change
| also is noted in the consumption of
| corn meal, which, in 80 years. fell off
from approximately 100 pounds per
person to about "a pounds. Break
fast foods have now reached con-
sumption Of more than IA pounds per
capita.
X X \
Certain Government activities In
recent years have effected the usual
methods of distributing -four. From
| the close of the war, say from 1920
to 1929 onward, there has been a
steady increase in the consumption
of bread turned out by the CONNER
| cial bakeries. Then, several years
ago, the Federal Farm Board found
itself with, enormous quantities of
wheat on hand. Later Congress au-
thorized the distribution of several
million bushels of wheat in the form
of -four, directly through the Red
Cross. to needy persons. This serious
ly affected the production of COM
mercial bakeries.
| During the current year, the usual
channels of distribution have no
doubt been somewhat affected by
the purchase and processing of
enormous quantities of meats. espe-
cially beef, which are being handled
by the FERA. Nationally, the con-
sumption of fish will also be affected
by this development, although this
would not have been the case If money
relief had prevailed, since in the lat
ter case those on the relief rolls would
purchase their usual foodstuffs with
out any material change.
Oils and fats have always stood
rather high in the American diet and
for many years butter and lard were
the principal foodstuffs of this kind
widely used. In recent years, oil from
cotton seed, coconuts and peanuts.
as well as cooking fats, have added
approximately 10 pounds of oils every
year to the average American diet.
During the 1884 canning season an
unusual amount of all types of food
| stuffs was put out. 1t Is believed
that, with 4500,000 families receiving
| direct aid from the Government, con-
sumption of this sort of food will be
at a peak for this year.
| y n
The most striking changes in the
| consumption of American foods dur
| ing recent years have been in sugar
and fruits. Formerly the average
American ate approximately so pounds
of sugar per annum. Now he con-
sumes more than 100 pounds. Dried
products, in terms of milk. have also
increased to about $50 pounds per
capita.
Fruits are also more widely used.
Particularly Is this the case with
apples and citrus fruits. However,
there has been a decrease recently in
the use Of apples. Apple consump-
ton has declined from about 100
pounds to little more than half that
amount in recent years, while there
has been a remarkable increase In
the consumption of citrus fruits,
peaches, grapes and bananas.
E OF course. one of the fundamental
causes Of the changes in food habits
is the comparative standards Of nv.