Civilians Ration book

Rationing began on January 8 1940, with the first items of food being bacon, ham, sugar and butter. In March 1940, meat was rationed, and by July that year, tea, margarine, cooking fat and cheese had also been included.  March 1941 saw jam, marmalade, treacle and syrup rationed and in June of that year, distribution of eggs was controlled, followed by milk distribution control in November.  In June 1942 dried egg powder – first available in the United States – reached Britain and the following month sweets were first rationed. Surprisingly, bread was first rationed in July 1946, but rationing continued for some items, including sweets, until the mid-1950s.