THE Committee on Nutrition of the American Academy of Pediatrics was established as a Scientific Committee by action of the Executive Board on April 1, 1954. It was created through due recognition of the importance of nutrition in the welfare of infants, children and adolescents. It had become evident that there should be an authoritative body, particularly concerned with the science and practice of nutrition in the periods of rapid growth which occupy the attention of pediatricians. In this manner it was hoped that special consideration of factors which affect the nutrition of infants, children and adolescents could be emphasized.
The Committee should include persons capable of compiling and appraising the pertinent facts and who also would be sensitive to the needs of practitioners and to the position of purveyors of products intended for the nutrition of infants, children and adolescents.
This Committee of the Academy shall offer guidance in selecting means of achieving optimal nutrition in those periods of rapid growth. Consultation and cooperation with other existing authoritative bodies are considered desirable.
The Executive Board of the Academy on September 29, 1955, defined the scope and functions of the Committee on Nutrition to include:
1. Compilation of the essential facts which are the scientific basis for practical nutrition of infants, children and adolescents.
2. Publication of the findings of the Committee in a form suitable to convey the information to physicians, such as brief reports and commentaries in the official journal and publications of the Academy.
This Committee shall concern itself with standards for nutritional requirements, optimal practices and the interpretation of current knowledge of nutrition as these affect infants, children and adolescents.