Book excerpt: In this publication, Professor Michael Latham draws upon his far-reaching experience in the field of international nutrition to provide a rich source of information about nutrition science, public health, food science and public policy. The text summarizes key points in human nutrition and provides information about protein, fats, carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins. Special emphasis is given to the nutritional needs of infants, children, mothers and the elderly. Basic information about foods commonly found in the diets of Africans, Asians and Latin Americans is given. The book focuses on the nutritional and health consequences of inadequate food consumption. Each major nutritional disorder is described and factors contributing to malnutrition such as low food production, food insecurity, poor health status and social and cultural factors are reviewed. [This is a reprint of the 1997 edition.]