National Dried MIlk Tin
AssociatedAssociated with
Ministry of Food
Date1940s
Object NameTin
Mediummetal
ClassificationsWartime
Dimensions18.3 x 11.5cm
AcquisitionPresented in 2002.
LocationView by Appointment - Aberdeen Treasure Hub
Object numberABDMS060647
About MeTin of 'National Dried Milk'Period:
20th Century
Description:
When the war began, Britain was importing about 60% of her food. Soon ships bringing food to this country were being sunk, some of the countries that grew the food were taken over by the enemy, and sometimes bombs hit the warehouses where the food was stored. To ensure that everyone got a fair share, the government introduced a system of rationing.
Bacon, butter and sugar rationing was the first to be introduced on 8 January 1940. Meat rationing followed in March and in July, tea, cooking fats, jam and cheese followed. Initially people were permitted one egg per fortnight, and three pints of milk a week, but later dried eggs and dried milk, known as 'household milk', became more common. Each tin of household milk was said to equal four pints of liquid milk when water was added and, for most of the war, every family was allowed one tin a month. Children under one, and later two, years old were entitled to National Dried Milk, a full-cream product much nearer the real thing than household milk. A points system gave shoppers a choice of other foods such as breakfast cereals, biscuits, canned fruit and fish. From July 1942 sweets were rationed to 2 ounces (50g) a week. Petrol and clothes were also rationed.
Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital
