Scientific review of the Welfare Food Scheme.

INTRODUCTION: The COMA Panel on Maternal and Child Nutrition has undertaken the first scientific review of the Welfare Food Scheme since its inception in 1940. It has: reviewed current dietary recommendations, identified from national data, population groups vulnerable to adverse nutritional outcomes, evaluated the contribution of the current scheme to prevention of these vulnerabilities and identified further information needs and highlighted improvements likely to be cost neutral. HISTORY AND ENTITLEMENT: Originally the Scheme incorporated universal provision. Subsequently it was targeted at the most socio-economically vulnerable. Today, a quarter of children under five are beneficiaries by virtue of their family's income. The Scheme has two principal beneficiary groups: pregnant women, mothers and young chidren in families eligible for certain social security benefits. With the exception of children under one year of age, all are entitled to a pint of milk a day (using redeemable milk tokens) and free vitamin supplements (available from designated clinics). Infant formula instead of milk is available for infants who are not breastfed. children under five years attending Scheme-registered day care facilities can receive one third of a pint of milk a day. Children aged 5-16 years not registered at school by virtue of mental or physical disability are entitled to a pint of milk a day. CURRENT DIET AND VULNERABLE GROUPS: The following adverse nutritional outcomes were considered: pregnant women and mothers low uptake of periconceptional folic acid supplements low dietary intake during pregnancy vitamin D deficiency.