DRASTIC CUTS IN BISCUITS AND CAKE

Chronicle (Levin), 4 May 1946, Page 5

DRASTIC CUTS IN BISCUITS AND CAKE

. . LONDON, May 2. . Darker brend for Britain was announced by the Alinister of Food (ISir Bfii Bmith) at a Press eonference tonight. ile announced: — 1. The extraction rate of flour from wheat, which on March 1(J was inereus- ; ed to 85 per ceut-., cotnpared vvith 78 per i cent. befbre- t'lle 'Wai-, would now .be.') raised tempoi-arily to !)) per cent. 2. A 25- per cent. reduction irf the output of biscuits and similar products. i 8. A 25 per cent. reduction in tlie allocations of sugar and rats for flour, i confectionarv an.(l cakes. Sir Ben said: " It is hoped ■ that ; these drastic steps will enable the most 1 stringent period bctvveen now and the next harvest to b.e bridged. I am conlident that the people will aceept these." Sir Ben told questioners he hoped that there would be no further reduetions. The saving in sugar and fats would be 40,000 tous in each case in a year. The new reductions would begin in a few days. Sugax- had been cut lie- : cituse it was used in flour. t The Press Associatiou says the cuts in bread an.d allied confectionerv exceed i the worst forecasts by tlte Ministrv be- ! fore Sir Beu 's retvnm from hi,s lalesf 1 visit to the l'nited States. The rise in the extraa-tioh rate will mean a los.s of animal feeding stufVs amounting over a vear to a little un.der 800,000 tons.