Food as American Propaganda in the First World War

The First World War marked a significant turning point in American culinary practices, including food renaming and changes in consumption patterns.
Anti-German sentiment played a crucial role in the propaganda efforts, prompting the renaming of traditional German foods.
Mobilization of middle-class American women was central to the efforts of the United States Food Administration (USFA) under Herbert Hoover, leading to shifts in household cooking and purchasing habits.

German foods were renamed (e.g., Sauerkraut to "liberty cabbage", hamburgers to "liberty steaks").
Cincinnati removed pretzels from cafeterias due to the strong anti-German sentiment.
The use of food renaming as a political tool is paralleled by the modern context of renaming "French fries" to "Freedom fries" in response to political events.

Women's involvement in food conservation was encouraged through propaganda, leading to changes in dietary habits for the war effort.
Women were targeted through posters and grassroots campaigns, integrating their existing activism (e.g., women’s clubs) into the wartime food agenda.
The government framed food conservation as a patriotic duty, linking it to support for American troops and the starving people of Europe.

Established under President Wilson, the CPI coordinated wartime propaganda.
Directed by George Creel, the CPI implemented various communication strategies, including local volunteer programs ("four-minute men").
Propaganda initiatives included posters, films, pamphlets, and public service announcements promoting food conservation and national unity against the enemy.

Propaganda involved dehumanizing the enemy through negative imagery and narratives associated with German barbarism.
Productions like "The Kaiser: The Beast of Berlin" emphasized the enemy's brutality, shaping public opinion against Germany.

Herbert Hoover was appointed to lead the USFA and was responsible for managing food distribution and conservation.
Hoover's initiative encouraged voluntary self-regulation among Americans, promoting actions such as "Hooverizing" (conserving food).
Hoover urged Americans to adopt simpler diets focusing on conservation of essential food commodities necessary for the war effort.

The Woman’s Committee of the Council of National Defense was key in mobilizing women for food conservation efforts.
Local women’s clubs played a significant role in educating homemakers about food conservation and dietary changes.
Community gardening (victory gardens) initiatives encouraged home food production, with women leading these efforts in urban and rural areas.

The USFA promoted shifts from red meat and wheat to more vegetables, salads, and less sugar.
Campaigns encouraged Americans to partake in dietary pledges (e.g., "Wheatless Mondays") to decrease demand for certain food items.
Public awareness efforts included educational fairs and cinema presentations focused on nutrition and conservation.

By late 1917, the USFA engaged nearly 500,000 volunteers in persuading families to conserve food and adopt nutrition education.
Participation rates among households varied widely, with some cities reporting up to 80% engagement in voluntary food pledges.

Canning became a key component of food conservation, with women encouraged to engage in home canning to sustain families and support the war effort.
Canning clubs and community initiatives revolved around encouraging the mass preservation of foods, leading to widespread practice of home canning.

The legacy of wartime food conservation initiatives continued, influencing American dietary habits and the growth of the canning industry post-war.
The propaganda effort contributed to sustained changes in food consumption, promotion of health awareness (vitamin intake), and the emergence of self-service grocery stores.
Overall, these wartime decisions positioned women as leaders in domestic food initiatives, eventually contributing to broader social reforms in American society, including suffrage and prohibition.

The food conservation initiatives of World War I represented a pivotal intersection of gender roles, national identity, and wartime propaganda.
The enduring legacy of these efforts not only modified American diets but reshaped societal views on women’s role in both public and domestic spheres.