asked the Minister for Health whether the Household Budget Inquiry of 1951-52 or any other similar inquiry reveals a pattern of food consumption as respects women and children which would enable such consumption to be expressed as a percentage of the average food consumption of a man; and, if so, if he will indicate the approximate "man value" in food consumption units applicable to (a) adult women, (b) children under five years, (c) children of five to ten years, and (d) children of ten to 14 years.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Food Consumption.
Such inquiries as have been undertaken in this country do not give the information in the form sought by the Deputy. For example, the National Nutrition Survey, which was carried out by my Department, was based on the intake of the family as a unit and did not extend to an examination of individual dietaries. In any case, I understand that in surveys of this kind where individual dietaries are adopted as the basis of study, it is the practice to express intake not as food consumption units but in relation to nutrients, vitamins, minerals and calories, etc.