FOOD PROBLEM IN BRITAIN NO EASIER

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 7, 13 October 1948, Page 5

FOOD PROBLEM IN BRITAIN NO EASIER

Wor hers Now Lack Needed Stamina The food problems that face the British housewife are not getting any easier to solve, according to a letter just received from Mrs G. E. Winterbourne, of Oxhey, Watford, Hertfordshire, by the Aid for Britain National Council. “Although one cannot say the people go hungry (for one makes up the meal with vegetables),” writes Mrs Winterbourne, “it is the opipion of the majority of people that everyone is lacking in stamina.

, “Fish is more easily obtainable now and provides a meal or two, but we get very tired of having it boiled as we have no fat to fry it in. Offal, such as liver, kidneys, etc. is never' on sale. Bread is now off the ration and easily obtainable, also cakes of poor quality—there are no fruit cakes. Potatoes are plentiful and at present there seems to be a glut. Tf suet were obtainable, and we could get dried fruit, boiled puddings would be a good fill-up but the supply of suet is scarce at 12 points for Boz. and there is practically no dried fruit at all.” The points allowance is now 24 points in a 4-week period-and following are examples of some of the points values: Sweet biscuits, 10 points a lb.; canned peaches, 12 points; canned salmon, 12 to 28 points; currants and sultanas, 12 points a lb. Many other items are on points including: Canned meat, fruit, tomatoes, beans, treacle, suet and jam. “Tinned, meat is very scarce,” continues the letter, “although I am told tinned tongue has been seen at 48 points per tin and this is only of interest to caterers. At present fresh fruit is in good supply but we cannot get anything substantial to go with it. / “There is no rice, sago, cornfloiu or custard powder to be had, and in any case, we have no milk to spare for it. Dried milk and evaporated milk is unobtainable but condensed milk can be had at 12 points per tin. “Apart from the problem of providing a dinner each day, breakfasts are even more difficult. We have bacon one morning, an egg the next, and then what? Cereals such as Cornflakes and Porridge are off the ration but we can’t eat them without milk. Like most mothers, I content myself with toast, but with the winter coming on the children and the men need a good meal to start the day, and if this were possible I am sure the whole tempo of work would increase. The people are not lacking the will to work—they are lacking the stamina.”