The recommended dietary allowance (RDA) was developed during World War II by Lydia J. Roberts, Hazel Stiebeling, and Helen S. Mitchell, all part of a committee established by the United States National Academy of Sciences in order to investigate issues of nutrition that might “affect national defense”.

Who created the RDA?

The RDI is derived from the RDAs, which were first developed during World War II by Lydia J. Roberts, Hazel Stiebeling and Helen S. Mitchell, all part of a committee established by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences to investigate issues of nutrition that might “affect national defense” (Nestle, 35).

What is the RDA based on?

The RDA is based on the population for which the mean and standard deviation were determined. Thus, different populations (children, men, women, etc.) have different RDAs. For nutrients where the data are insufficient, experts make a guess based on what appear to be typical intakes of healthy-seeming people.