As an Extra Credit Assignment, Professor Thompson Has His Nutrition

As an extra credit assignment, Professor Thompson has his nutrition class study different countries around the world with high malnutrition. For the project, students are asked to research a number of topics such as the number of low-birthweight newborns, prevalence of underweight children, rates of breastfeeding, and access to safe drinking water to learn more about each selected country. The students are then asked to give a brief report of their findings, along with possible strategies for helping the assigned country. Several commonalities are discovered among the students' reports.
Most of Professor Thompson's students find that people become malnourished or starve for a number of reasons. Which of these are particularly prevalent?

A) poverty only
B) racism only
C) food-borne illnesses only
D) poverty and racism
E) poverty and food-borne illnesses