ABSTRACT
The analysis of the last chapter documented the substantial increase in average per capita - nutrient availability in China over the last 35 years. The improvement in per capita nutrient availability at the national level, however, does not necessarily mean that the nutritional status of all Chinese has improved or even that the number of individuals suffering from serious malnutrition has decreased either relatively or absolutely. In other words, the national food balance sheets tell us that food availability has increased on a per capita basis, but they do not tell us how the increase in consumption was distributed. If the increase in consumption benefitted those already enjoying an adequate diet, then it is possible that the the numbers of the malnourished and/or the severity of their malnutrition has stayed the same or even increased.
