How the U.S. government planned to feed nuclear war survivors in the Cold War era: The all-purpose survival biscuit
, an ominous wail pierced the air throughout the Hawaiian Islands. The state’s emergency management agency had flipped the switch on its “Attack Warning Tone,” a foreboding siren that heralds an imminent nuclear attack.
These experiments ultimately produced enduring national standards for underground shelters, such as a minimum of 10 square feet of space per person — which, while only half the space allotted inmates in crowded jail cells, was more than three times the amount of space given to prisoners at the Nazis’ Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, and six times as much space per person as inside the notorious Black Hole of Calcutta, the government explained helpfully in one report on shelter life.
New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller, perhaps the nation’s leading civil-defense enthusiast, bragged that a day’s worth of crackers cost just 37 cents per person — an economic solution to feeding an entire nation following nuclear war.
Officials in each region studied native food stores and agriculture supplies, then estimated the difference between a nuclear war in the springtime and one in autumn. In the southeastern United States, for instance, officials estimated that if an attack occurred in the fall, agriculture harvesting would be 95 percent complete and that survivors in states like Alabama or Georgia would then be able to forage a pound of food a day — catching fish or game, or eating roots or berries.
Perhaps no one should have been surprised, given that the crackers’ major flaw was immediately apparent to the reporters who were offered samples: “Wafers... were about 2 inches square and ¼ inch thick and resembled small pieces of wallboard,” wrote one reporter. “They tasted like wheat and crumbled easily.” The biscuits, thewrote, “may be destined in the era of possible nuclear warfare for the notoriety that World War II gave to Spam, the crushed meat.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
The Mediterranean Diet Just Got Way Easier To Follow Thanks To These CookbooksFrom the same chef who wrote expert-fave, Ottolenghi Simple, 'These inspiring recipes might look intimidating at first, but they're actually full of ingredients you can find at your local store,' says Iu. Plus just skimming through the pages is like taking a trip to the Mediterranean, due in part to Ottolenghi's clear goal to 'capture and bring forth the history of the culture and cuisine through flavor,' says Iu.
Read more »
The American food aisle in this grocery store shows everything that’s wrong with the U.S. dietThe ‘American food’ aisle in this British grocery store shows everything that’s wrong with the U.S. diet
Read more »
How a Former High School Linebacker Ditched Dieting for Running and Lost 184 PoundsAt 19 years old, Ethan Taylor clocked in at 368 pounds, and quick diet fixes weren’t helping him shed the weight; that’s when he pulled on his running shoes.
Read more »
Can Diet and Exercise Actually Improve PCOS Symptoms?Here’s what experts know so far.
Read more »
Slideshow: What’s a Ketogenic Diet?These are low-carb diets -- the basic idea is to get most of your calories from protein and fat. There are some benefits, but you should be careful with them, especially if you have certain medical issues.
Read more »