Forwarded
Comments on the "Report on the Situation of the Substitute Food Conference"
(12 December 1960)

Comrade Shangkun[1]:
Send this document by telegram on the 12th to the Party committees of all provinces, cities, and regions for reading. Although a month has already passed, it is still useful.

Mao Zedong
December 12th

[1] Shangkun, namely Yang Shangkun, then Alternate Secretary of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee.
[2] Refers to the material on the situation of the Substitute Food Conference compiled by Yao Yilin, Deputy Director of the Finance and Trade Office of the State Council, on November 12, 1960. Its main points were: (1) Delegates from various regions unanimously agreed that Vice Premier Tan Zhenlin's report clarified the guidelines and policies for promoting substitute foods and solved major problems. Some said that in the past, only quantity was emphasized for grain and vegetables, without stressing quality, and only considered how to fill the stomach with substitute foods; now they understand that nutrition must also be considered. In the future, production must be arranged according to the different nutrients of each crop, and for this reason, scientific research departments are requested to provide data on the nutrient content of various crops. (2) Regarding the large-scale promotion of substitute foods, all regions showed great enthusiasm; some cadres had already called back, demanding immediate action. (3) On the issue of how to carry out the promotion work, all regions held discussions and planned to establish institutions, arrange labor, formulate production plans, and conduct technical training. (4) Everyone unanimously agreed that to launch this movement, ideological work must be done well, the masses' views on fungi must be changed, and some practical problems must be solved simultaneously. On December 14, 1960, the CPC Central Committee forwarded this material to the Party committees of all provinces, cities, and regions.