Nevin S. Scrimshaw facts for kids

Nevin Stewart Scrimshaw (born January 20, 1918 – died February 8, 2013) was an important American food scientist. He taught at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Scrimshaw was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Throughout his long career, he created special food supplements. These helped people in developing countries who didn't get enough protein, iodine, or iron. He wrote many books and articles about food and nutrition. He also started the Department of Nutrition and Food Science at MIT. He founded the Institute of Nutrition of Central America and Panama, too. Later, he created the Nevin Scrimshaw International Nutrition Foundation. He won the Bolton L. Corson Medal in 1976 and the World Food Prize in 1991. Nevin Scrimshaw passed away at 95 in Thornton, New Hampshire.

A Life Dedicated to Nutrition

Nevin Scrimshaw grew up in New England. In the 1930s and 1940s, he studied nutrition there. He focused on how different foods could be combined to provide all the necessary nutrients. He worked alongside his wife, Mary Goodrich, who was also a scientist.

In the 1950s and 1960s, they lived in Guatemala and India. They worked to fight a serious problem called kwashiorkor. This is a type of severe malnutrition. They created meals using local vegetables. In Guatemala, they mixed cottonseed flour with corn. In India, they combined peanut flour with wheat. These simple food mixes helped many children get the nutrients they needed. His daughter, Susan C. Scrimshaw, is also a well-known academic.

Recognized for His Work

Nevin Scrimshaw received many awards for his important contributions. These awards recognized his dedication to improving human health through better nutrition.

• American Medical Association/Joseph B. Goldberger Award in Clinical Nutrition, 1969
• Institute of Food Technologists International Award, 1969
• Member, National Academy of Sciences, 1971 (This is a very high honor for scientists in the U.S.)
• American Society for Nutrition/Conrad Elvehjem Award for Public Service in Nutrition, 1976
• Bolton S. Corson Medal, 1976
• Fellow of the American Institute of Nutrition, 1985
• Bristol-Myers Award for Distinguished Achievements in Nutrition Research, 1988
• World Food Prize, 1991 (This award honors people who have improved the quality, quantity, or availability of food worldwide.)