The nutrition of population of the USSR during 1949-1954

Abstract

The article considers state of nutrition of population of the USSR during post-war recovery period in 1949-1954 after cancellation of standardized distribution of food cards and implementation of currency reform in 1948.The constant annual increase of quantity and quality of ingested food up to end of studied period is demonstrated. The explanations are given to contradictory assessments by various researchers of efficiency of measures implemented by authorities to improve dietary intake of citizens. It is established that characteristic given by authors, in many respects, is determined by time of study, availability of declassified archives, timeserving to dominated in those years of total negative attitude to Stalinism, proclaimed by N. S. Khrushchev. It is emphasized that administrative command method applied in establishing organization of diet of working population, for all its shortcomings, judging by results, allowed people with every following year to buy more food, was at the same time rather effective. The expectations of population related to hope of better life after devastating war, were reinforced annually by decreasing of prices of consumer goods and increasing of incomes of majority of population, having fair character. The people bringing maximal benefit to society - researchers, physicians, teachers - had more opportunities to consume balanced food. At the same time, even low-paid workers could afford oneself to buy high-calorie products. Despite constant improvement of nutrition structure, content of macro- and micro-nutrients in food did not meet requirements for saturating organism with full-fledged ingredients (proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins). It is proved that Soviet model of development as exemplified by its implementation in sphere of nutrition of population was accepted by society in 1940s-1950s and requires further investigation and pondering to applied best Soviet practices nowadays.