White death among the reindeer herders

I'm reading Piers Vitebsky's book on reindeer herders. After getting along for centuries without it, herders got access to white flour and sugar under the Soviets. In the photo below, the two are holding up a large empty bag labeled "white crystal sugar." I think this is one Vitebsky brought them.

From the perspective of an outsider who is trying to "help," it is difficult to bring something you know will hurt people but that is expected from you. The same is true in Mongolia, where vodka and candies are the expected gifts, although these are definitely not what people need.
I don't remember if there were reindeer herders in Weston Price's book, but there could have been!