Trade card, "He who wastes - prolongs the war", United States Food Administration, circa 1917-1920

Description

This trade card for the United States Food Administration promotes food conservation and discourages waste. A shopping basket is packed with loaves of bread, sugarcubes in a box, meat, butter, and greens. The front text reads: "He who wastes - prolongs the war. Save wheat, sugar, meat, fats." The back text reads: "Corn meal is cheaper than wheat flour. Corn meal is the first substitute to go below the price of wheat flour. All who can are asked to use NO wheat flour until the next harvest in September. Hominy, samp, and corn-flakes are all CORN. Henry B. Endicott, Food Administrator." Established as an agency in 1917, the United States Food Administration "regulated the supply, distribution, and conservation of foods. [It] bought and sold grain and sugar and their products through two subsidiaries, the Food Administration Grain Corporation (U.S. Grain Corporation) and the U.S. Sugar Equalization Board, Inc." It was abolished in 1920.