NUTRITION INFORMATION IN THE FORMER GDR - A RETROSPECTIVE

A survey of the carriers, organization, methods, extent, situation, effects and problems of nutritional education in the former GDR is provided. Nutritional information campaigns dealt primarily with the consequences of excessive and increasing consumption of food and stimulants. Although the principles of "healthy nutrition" were adequately known among the population, there has not been any desirable change in eating habits. Consumption of luxury food was promoted by large spending power (due to lack of technical goods and services) and by very low prices of food and meals at canteens and other catering facilities which were subsidized by government. The lower life expectancy in the socialist countries including GDR as compared to western countries, increased subsidies for the supply of meat, negative effects of excessive consumption on the population's health, national income and productivity were reasons for state authorities to support nutrition information campaigns. For psychological, economic and other reasons, these measures were of limited effect, however. Contents and methods of nutritional information are briefly outlined. They were in principle largely identical to the recommendations made in the Federal Republic and internationally. Finally, the support is recognized which was obtained for decades from the German Society of Nutrition and other West German organizations.