Eat the Basic 7 poster with a pie chart of food groups
Extent and Medium
overall: Height: 27.875 inches (70.803 cm) | Width: 22.000 inches (55.88 cm)
Creator(s)
- United States Department of Agriculture (Distributor)
- War Food Administration, United States Department of Agriculture (Issuer)
- United States Government Printing Office (Printer)
Archival History
The poster was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 1988 by David and Zelda Silberman.
Acquisition
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of David and Zelda Silberman
Funding Note: The cataloging of this artifact has been supported by a grant from the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany.
Scope and Content
Eat the Basic 7 poster issued by the United States Department of Agriculture during World War II (1939-1945.) Food groups were color coded as in this pie chart, to make them easier to remember. In 1942, the Emergency Price Control Act was passed and the Office of Price Administration began rationing food and other goods to make sure they were available to aid Allies and to supply the military. From March 1943-June 1945, the War Food Administation was set up to handle food production and distribution for civilian and war needs. People were encouraged to grow Victory Gardens due to farm labor, transportation, and food shortages. Nutrition programs were introduced to educate the public about healthful eating, food preservation, and efficient food usage to reduce waste. Ration stamps for food purchase were introduced to regulate food consumption. Food rationing continued in the US until after the war in 1946.
Conditions Governing Access
No restrictions on access
Conditions Governing Reproduction
No restrictions on use
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Offset color lithographic poster of a pie chart with 7 differently colored slices labeled group 1-7, with the name of the food group and types of food for healthy eating: green background, GROUP ONE GREEN AND YELLOW VEGETABLES some raw - some cooked, frozen or canned ; orange background, GROUP TWO ORANGES, TOMATOES, GRAPEFRUIT or raw cabbage or salad greens ; blue background, GROUP THREE POTATOES AND OTHER VEGETABLES AND FRUITS raw, dried, cooked, frozen or canned ; white background, GROUP FOUR MILK AND MILK PRODUCTS fluid, evaporated, dried milk, or cheese ; pink background, GROUP FIVE MEAT, POULTRY, FISH, OR EGGS or dried beans, peas nuts, or peanut butter ; brown background, GROUP SIX BREAD, FLOUR AND CEREALS Natural whole grain -- or enriched or restored ; yellow background, GROUP SEVEN BUTTER AND FORTIFIED MARGARINE (with added Vitamin Ae pie chart on a black background. In the center is a white circle with a blue image of a smiling family, 2 parents, a boy, and a girl. The poster was folded into quarters for convenient mailing.
Subjects
- World War, 1939-1945--Posters, American--Specimens.
- Nutrition--United States--Posters.
- World War, 1939-1945--Food supply--United States--Posters.
- War posters, American.
- Food conservation--Posters.
- World War, 1939-1945--Nutrition--United States--Posters.
Genre
- Posters
- Object