“ERSATZ” CHOCOLATE

Grey River Argus, 2 February 1944, Page 8

“ERSATZ” CHOCOLATE

PUBLIC FOOLED DUNEDIN, Feb. 1. Several hundred cases of emergency ration food packs have recently been made available for distribution to the public, mainly in Otago and South Canterbury. The contents of the packs resemble chocolate in colour and flavour, but actually the packs contain a food made according to a British Ministry of Food formula. A small quantity of this food, .along with field service biscuits, is sufficient to sustain the consumer for a considerable length of time.

As a result of one branch of the armed services requiring the use of a new pack-sealing method, the manufacturers were faced with the problem of disposing of a quantity ot emergency food which had been assigned to that branch. In order to of# j ex pense of having the tins or rood opened and resealed in the n „yf way. the manufacturers were authorised by the Food Controller to make this particular consignment of food packs available for distribution to retailers.

Some misunderstanding has apparently arisen among purchasers, who appear to have been under the impression that they were buying chocolate. The manufacturers said that most of the food which had been distributed for sale would probably by now have been disposed of for local consumption or for despatch to servicemen abroad. Not only was the food of great value, it was po’nted out, but it had proved very popular among men in overseas camps. The consignment which was being sold was of recent manufacture, and the sole reason for its disposal in this manner was the new sealing requirement.