On the 8th of January, 1940 what were the first 3 food items to be rationed in the UK due to WWII?

I was born and raised in England and most of my early childhood 6-12yrs. seemed to have been spent queuing up at various shops, ration books in hand. No big self-serve stores then. Butcher, grocer, greengrocer, baker etc., all separate shops so it literally took hours to buy half a dozen different items. I married in the mid 1950’s and certain items such as new furniture and fabrics were still on ration but no restrictions on buying these items second-hand by then. Everyone I knew grew whatever they could in the fruit and vegetable line and clothes were worn until they literally fell apart. At that point such things as womens coats and dresses and mens shirts were unpicked and made into childrens garments. Knitted items were unravelled, wound into balls and knitted or crocheted into something else. We were always busy and there was very little actual garbage generated.

Like this ...a British related question for a change ......

Lilian Ling, we could learn a lot from the wartime experience of those who went through it. It was called austerity but it's better than the complete overload of our present wasteful culture. Bravo for you and others of my parents generation.!

Adrienne Nelson, biscuits were prebaked. You did not stand in line waiting for them to be cooked.

Madeleine Cheesman, we were hands off but were sneaking military supplies . After we finally got in we could really help with supplies . My dad tried to join in Canada early on. I totally admire the British for their strength of character and Churchill for his determination ❤️

I am old enough to remember when sugar was rationed. My father allowed us to drink tea and coffee when we turned 13 but weren't allowed to add any sugar!! Maybe memories of the rationing.

Lucky guess

It seemed right. Got it

"Eurotrash" what kind of language is that. A little respect is needed.

Purvis . . .excuse me . . . US was “hands off” until Pearl Harbour, then focused on the Pacific. Yeah, helped out in Europe, but we would have managed, thank you very much. Churchill would have done it. I grew up in post war UK, Mum kept chickens for eggs and meat. I remember.

When visiting my grandparents in the U.K. by Grandpop still kept the sugar locked in the bureau so there would enough for making birthday cakes.

Shortly after I arrived in England in 1954 they removed the last items off the rationing lists.

Bad form Purvis! Many of our American ancestors....myself included....came from Europe.

I was born in 1941 and remember standing in line at the local shops. And the Coop giving our Divi number in. 53674 I think. Mum used to make great food with the cheap parts from the butcher, Lamb knuckle, lamb neck and ribs, salt fish, etc etc.

Purvis, you are an imbecile.

Jakob Gerber, the daily big breakfast belongs to a time when most people had a more physical lifestyle and worked it off. For most people now it is a rare treat.

I would love to know the longevity of the English . Their breakfast alone is enough to clog one’s arteries. Admittedly I love it, but ...