David Paige's Nutrition Artifacts

Collections Fall 2019

For five decades, David Paige has fought to radically improve children’s nutrition in the U.S.—and amassed tangible evidence of the journey.

By Karen Kruse Thomas • Photos by Chris Myers; Best Content Production Group/Getty Images

Hunger was a national health problem. After seeing low birthweight infants and undergrown children at a Cherry Hill clinic, David Paige, MD, MPH ’69, researched the health benefits of supplementing infant diets. His work led to the Iron Fortified Infant Formula Program and then a Maryland voucher program that served as the model for the Women, Infants and Children program. Today, WIC is the third-largest federal nutritional assistance program, after food stamps and school lunches.

 

Image of a Breast Pump

MANUAL BREAST PUMP, 2010S

Paige’s research informed the 1980s campaign encouraging mothers to breastfeed infants for optimal health outcomes.

Advertisement image

EVAPORATED MILK FORMULA ADVERTISEMENT, 1950

With formula vouchers, Paige sought to help poor families avoid having to water down baby formula to save money.

Textbook image

CLINICAL NUTRITION TEXTBOOK, 1983

Paige has served as editor-in-chief of the journal Clinical Nutrition and the landmark textbook.

Food Model image

FOOD MODELS, c. 1990s

WIC nutrition counseling included informing mothers about the types of food covered by the program.

Picture of a Public Health Service Officer

PAIGE AS A PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE OFFICER, 1960s

Before coming to Baltimore, Paige served as chief of the Community Health Service at the Navajo Indian Reservation clinic in Chinle, Arizona.

Congressional Testimony image

CONGRESSIONAL TESTIMONY, 1971

Paige testified before Congress 23 times on behalf of federal aid to nutrition supplementation programs.

Formula Program poster

IRON-FORTIFIED INFANT FORMULA PROGRAM POSTER, 1970

Paige saw vouchers as prescriptions to treat iron deficiency and undernourishment.

LACT-AID Milk and Enzyme image

LACT-AID ENZYME PACKAGE, 1979



LACTAID MILK CARTON, 1983

After identifying lactose intolerance in children as a widespread health problem, Paige influenced the development of Lactaid, the first reduced-lactose milk.