8 January 2009

This day in history:
Rationing began on 8 January 1940. Each person was allowed a specific mount of basic foods. In July 1940 a complete ban was put on the making or selling of iced cakes, and in September the manufacture of `candied peel` or `crystallised cherries` meant the death knell for the traditional wedding cake. On 1st December 1941 the Ministry of Food introduced the points rationing scheme for items such as canned meat, fish and vegetables at first. Everyone was given 16 points a month, later raised to twenty, to spend as wished at any shop that had the items wanted. read more