Rationing In The United Kingdom

New Zealand Listener, Volume 10, Issue 235, 24 December 1943, Page 22

Rationing In The United Kingdom

| (Written for "The Listener’ by DR.

MURIEL

BELL

Nutritionist to the

Department of Health)

ing that has been instituted for butter and sugar, it may be of interest to readers of this column to learn what are the rationing methods in use in the United Kingdom, and how these compare with those of other countries. There are two types of ration scales in the United Kingdom-straight rations and points rations. Among the straight rations are:-sugar, 8 oz. per week; butter, 2 oz. per week; margarine (all of which is vitaminised), 4 oz. per week; lard, 2 oz. per week; cheese, 4 oz. per week (though it has been as far up as 8 oz. and as low as 1 oz.: the intention is to be as generous as possible with such a highly valuable food); bacon, 4 oz. per week; eggs, variable, from one a month to one a week, according to supplies. Priority is given to babies from six months to two years, to invalids, and to nursing mothers-the allowance for them being 3 eggs a week; a tin of dried eggs (equivalent to 12 eggs), is also allowed every two months; fresh milk, varied allowance, of which the lowest has been 2 pints a week; special allowance for children, expectant and nursing mothers, and invalids; dried milk, one tin equivalent to 4 pints of skimmed milk, every two months; meat to the value of 1/2 per week; tea, 2 oz. each per week, none for children under 5 years of age (the average pre-war consumption of tea was 9 lb. per year); preserves, 1 lb. of jam, marmalade or honey a month. git The Points Scheme Under the points rationing scheme, 20 points are allowed per month per person. These may be used in whatever way the person likes, a method that introduces some elasticity into rationing, and thus provides a little variety and yet puts a limit on the amount purchasable, as follows: Dried skim milk, 2 points per tin (equivalent to 2 pints); condensed milk, 2 points per tin (equivalent to 2 pints); sweetened condensed milk, 8 points per tin (equivalent to 2 pints); dried fruits: dates, 12 points per pound; currants, sultanas, raisins, apples, pears, peaches, apricots, 16 points; prunes, 4; figs, 6. The prices of the dried fruits are reasonable, but the points scheme cramps the style of the buyer! Other foods on the points scheme are tice, 4 per 1b.; rolled oats, lentils, split peas, 2 per lb.; haricot and butter beans, 1 per Ib.; corn flakes, etc., 1 point per 4 oz.; salmon, tinned, 16 oz., red 32 points, pink 4 points; canned meats, e.g. galatine, 2 points per 16 oz. tin; syrup, 8 points per lb.; biscuits, sweet, 4 points per Ib. (varieties cut to 10%). Bread is unrationed. There is no white bread now-it is all a brownish colour, being made from "national wheatmeal" flour, i.e., it lacks the bran, but contains nearly all the vitamin value, because it includes what we term pollard, etc. Foods such as fresh fruit Aapples and oranges and bananas), are scarce. Prices are controlled. Next we shall compare rationing in other countries. I’ view of the New Zealand ration-