Nutrition Expert Makes Most Of Chch. Visit

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30469, 17 June 1964, Page 2

Nutrition Expert Makes Most Of Chch. Visit

On a study tour to visit research institutes and laboratories connected with food chemistry and nutrition in various countries, Dr. H. M. B. BaHschnueter made the Blast of her time in Christchurch yesta’day. She visited the Wheat Research Institute, a flour mill, and the Crop Research Division, Lincoln.

"I wanted to get some new I .mpressons.” she said last evening. “It has been most ; interesting. Dr. Balischmieter. who was born in Germany, has lived in Pretoria, South Africa, for the last 10 years : She has a warmth and friendliness that belies her leather imposing title of chief research officer, division of , food technology. National Nutrition Research Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. . The main aim of her institute was to help in the campaign to improve the nutritional standards of all age groups and sections of South Africa, she said. “We are interested in producing cheaper aad better foods.** The institute investigates nutritional problems referred to it by Government departments. carries out research in aspects of nutrition on be-' half of food-processing md'istnes and compiles health surveys One survey compared standards and habits of nutrition of Bantu, Indian and European children. Seven hundred

children of each race were involved. Finding ways of preparing new food products, with good nutritional values, from sur >plus foods particularly interests Dr. BaUsehmietet I Maise—“which is not an ideal food, lacking some of the < amino adds"—was one surplus food, she said. An attempt was being made Jto incorporate protein substances such as the peanut product remaining after the removal of the oil and maiz-. into bread, she said. Dr. BaHschmieter has written papers on the utilisation of maize meal in bread the storage of food products, the partaging of meat, the processing of fat. egg powder and the use aad composition of fruit. She studied chemistry and food chemistry at the Tech nieal University of Berlin and gained her doctorate in chemistry. She emigrated ts» South Africa with her mothe** in 1955 “We like it very much there—though the last two summers have been rather hot.” In her spare time, she enjoys gem cutting and polishmg as a hobby.

“If you know the places—stsch as old mines, you ear. gather pieces of agate roond Pretoria. I belong to a gem rfuh, where we cut and polish stones.” The “jade" (green stone) in New Zealand interests he and she hopes to lake a polished tiki home with ba. Dr. Ballsehmieter spent three weeks in Japan last month and attended a symposium cm oil-seed pro teins. She will visit institutes in Dunedin and the NortL Island before going to Aus tralia.