When the Vatican attempted to transmit food supplies from Chile to German infants the US State Department forbade it.[31] The German food situation reached its worst during the very cold winter of 1946–1947 when German calorie intake ranged from 1,000–1,500 calories per day, a situation made worse by severe lack of fuel for heating.[31] Meanwhile, the Allies were well fed, average adult calorie intake was; U.S. 3200–3300; UK 2900; U.S. Army 4000.[31] German infant mortality rate was twice that of other nations in Western Europe until the close of 1948.[31]