Unpopularity of War Bread, 29th June 1917

“UNPOPULAR WAR BREAD.

“AND THE QUALITY OF GOVERNMENT FLOUR.

“General condemnation of Government flour was expressed at a meeting of the London Master Bakers’ Protection Society, and a resolution was passed asking for an interview with the Prime Minister to point out the ineptitude the Ministry of Food in the administration of the Bread, Flour, and Cake and Pastry Orders, and calling attention to the fact that the advice of the Advisory Committee appointed has been entirely disregarded.

“A deputation was elected and instructed to impress upon Mr. Lloyd George the urgent necessity of preventing the great waste of bread occasioned by the inferior quality of the present flour, and to urge that this could only be brought about by an alteration in the composition of the Government regulation flour. Further, if the Bread Order was not revoked or amended in order to safeguard the health of consumers bakers would be compelled to take drastic action.

“In connection with complaints concerning war bread. Dr. Campbell, Honorary Lecturer to the Metropolitan Food Campaign, reports to the Lord Mayor's Food Economy Committee that for the young and the average healthy adult of middle age properly made war bread is nutritious, and provided it completely masticated throws no undue strain on the digestive system. But for very young children and the aged it is sometimes found to be of too coarse a character to be thoroughly digested.

“He advocates the production of finer wheaten flour, containing less fibre, by milling the wheat to 73 per cent, instead of 81 per cent., as now carried out. The raw germ would thus be eliminated, which, though very nutritious, exercises a very deleterious effect on the colour and keeping qualities of the flour.

“In view of the varying qualities of war bread, he also recommends the standardisation of Government by flour making the addition of other cereals a fixed quantity.”

'Nottingham Evening Post', 29th June 1917.