Wartime food policies were one of the critical success factors in WW2 for the UK. They kept the military fed & the civilian population working, & resulted in the British population being healthier than at any time before or since in history.
British Wartime Food
François Latry
Francois Latry was chef of the Savoy Hotel in London for 23 years. He was a favourite of the press on both sides of the Atlantic, and was pronounced to be the leading chef in Europe of his time.
Government Cheddar Cheese
During World War Two, the UK government ordered most cheese factories to standardize on making cheddar in order to most efficiently meet wartime demands. This came to be known informally as “government cheddar.”
Household Milk
Household Milk is a term that was used in Britain during the Second World War for government-issued powdered skim milk. It was actually labelled “Household Milk.” Rationing of liquid fresh milk had begun in Britain in November 1941. Distribution of the powdered milk called “Household Milk” began a month later in December. It was powdered…
Marguerite Patten: English Home Economist and Wartime Food Consultant
Marguerite Patten (1915 – 2015) was an English home economist and food writer whose career spanned many decades. She came to prominence in the 1940s during the Second World War, but continued working until 2011.
Mock Orange Juice
Mock orange juice (aka “Carolene”) was a recipe used during rationing in the U.K. in World War Two. It produces a liquid whose taste is reminiscent of orange juice. To make it, you peel and slice swede or turnip somewhat thinly, toss the slices in a few teaspoons of sugar, then let it stand overnight,…
National Dried Milk
National Dried Milk was a powdered, full-cream milk fortified with vitamin D. It was intended for feeding to children at a time of milk rationing in England during World War Two.
National Loaf
The National Loaf was a loaf of bread sold in the UK during World War Two. It was based on a form of whole-grain bread in order to make wheat imports go further.
National Margarine
Special Margarine. April 1943 United States Office of War Information, Overseas Picture Division. National Margarine was a national margarine commissioned by the British Ministry of Food during World War Two. There were actually two kinds of National Margarine: Special, and Standard. Both came in waxed-paper wrapped blocks. The Special cost more, 9d a pound, compared…
Rose Hips
Rose Hips are the fruit that the rose plant produces. Botanically, roses are related to apple trees. So, if you will, the “hip” is the apple that the rose bush produces. Rose hips are round, and about the size of a cherry (at least, the ones that most people consider worth bothering with are.) When…