SAVING WHEAT IN BRITAIN

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24866, 4 May 1946, Page 7

SAVING WHEAT IN BRITAIN

NEW AND DRASTIC CUTS IN USE

EXTRACTION RATE NOW 90 PER CENT. . LONDON, May 2. TTie British Minister of Food (Sir Ben Smith) has announced new measures to save wheat and flour in Britain, to help meet the world food shortage and to provide for the period between now and next harvest The new measures, as announced at a press conference, are:(1) The extraction rate of flour from wheat which on March 10 was increased to 85 per cent., compared with 73 per cent, before the war, would now be raised temporarily to

90 per cent (2) A 25 per cent, reduction in the output of biscuits and similar products.

(3) A 25 per cent, reduction in the allocations of sugar and fats for flour, confectionery, and cakes. “It Is hoped that these drastic steps will enable the most stringent period between now and next harvest to be bridged,” said the Minister. “I am confident that the people will accept these further reductions in view of the world shortage. I regret, because of the extreme urgency, that it has been impossible to inform the trades concurrently with this announcement." Sir Ben Smith told questioners that he hoped there would be no further reductions. The saving in sugar and fats would be 40.000 tons in each case In the year. The new reductions would begin in a few days. Sugar had been cut because it was used in flour. The Press Association states that the cuts in bread and allied confectionery exceed the worst forecast, by the Ministry before Sir Ben Smith's return from his latest visit to the United States The rise’in the extraction rate will mean the loss of animal feeding stuffs amounting over the year to a little less than 300,000 tons. The British Ambassador to Rome (Sir Noel Charles) has told the Italian Government that Britain will lend Italy 50,000 tons of wheat.