Lecture 33: World War II and the Advent of Fast Food

World War II and the Advent of Fast Food......................................

Lecture 33

E

very day, the equivalent of one in four adults in the United States

visits a fast-food restaurant. In 1970, Americans spent six billion

dollars on fast food. In 2000, Americans spent more than 110 billion,

which is more than what is spent on higher education, computers, or even

new cars. Currently, Americans spend about 240 billion dollars per annum,

which is more than double what it was a decade ago. In this lecture, you will

learn about fast food and its connections with World War II.

The Rise of Fast Food

 Like in World War I, adequate nutrition for soldiers and getting

food to the front were major concerns for the U.S. government in

World War II. The technology was in place to measure the calories

and nutrients necessary for maintaining health for soldiers, but

what went into average rations was surprising. The types of foods

that were sent to soldiers became staples of the post-war kitchen,

sold as being easy and convenient, or are what we would consider

junk food.

 Designed by physiologist Ancel Keys in the early 1940s, K rations

were intended for short-term use by paratroopers and airborne

divisions. A K ration had to fi t in a pocket and be edible cold. He

also had to compromise with what soldiers actually wanted to eat,

so it contained canned meat, crackers, chewing gum, cigarettes, and

a candy bar—plus a fruit-fl avored powdered drink or instant coffee

and sugar. A standard C ration, which was for more regular use, had

more canned foods, including meat stew and dessert.

 There were also broader effects of nutrition research during the

war. Roosevelt had a special Food and Nutrition Board, which was

organized to look into how food related to national defense, and in

1943, they came up with Recommended Daily Allowances (RDAs).

It is impossible to assess the impact that RDAs had initially, but it