Historical Treasures
RATION BOOK
Vital to the war effort, these coupon books helped control the food supply of the United States United States, 1942
As
food and other supplies became scarce, rationing became just another part of everyday life during World War II. In Britain, though petrol was rationed in 1939, it was introduced widespread across a variety of items in 1940. During World War I, although nations such as Germany and Britain experienced food shortages and rationing, the United States was able to rely solely on the implementation of a propaganda scheme designed to cut food waste. But during World War II, the population of the US were not so lucky and it quickly became apparent that certain items, particularly those deemed valuable to the war effort, would need to be rationed. Rationing began in 1942 and was organised by the Federal Office of Price Administration, known as OPA for short.