Food habits and the apparent nature and extent of dietary nutritional deficiencies in the Peruvian Andes.

Food patterns, and energy and nutrient intake of a sample of rural and urban families in the Peruvian Andes are analyzed and compared with requirements and recommended figures of nutrient allowances. It is concluded that, with the exception of vitamin A, there is very little nutrient deficiency where calorie requirements are met. About half the population in the region suffers from some degree of calorie deficiency in the sense that the total quantity of food available to the family is insufficient to satisfy energy needs of all family members. The incidence of calorie deficiency is about equally distributed between rural and urban areas and there is strong evidence that calorie intake is positively correlated with the proportion of home-produced to total (home-produced and purchased) food.