Scurvy in the Age of Billionaires
Once banished to history books, scurvy is making a comeback in wealthy countries thanks to soaring economic inequality. While the rich swim in spirulina kombucha and kale smoothies, the poor are skipping out on oranges and broccoli.
In the United States, scurvy rates among children have more than tripled in recent years, from 8.2 per 100,000 people in 2016 to 26.7 per 100,000 in 2020. (William West / AFP via Getty Images)
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Scurvy, a disease often associated with eighteenth-century seafarers, is making a resurgence in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Medical research has identified a clear culprit: growing economic inequality.
Scurvy results from a deficiency in vitamin C, which is found in fruits and vegetables, specifically citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and grapefruit, as well as cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and spinach. In the United States, scurvy rates among children have more than tripled in recent years, from 8.2 per 100,000 people in 2016 to 26.7 per 100,000 in 2020, according to a July 2024 study in the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, which analyzed data from over 19 million pediatric patients.
