Introduction

This investigation into the consumption of milk in the home and at school was carried out for the Ministry of Food between February 5th and 26th, 1943.

The inquiry was made in order to discover:-

(1) Whether housewives knew the amount of milk to which their families were entitled.

(2) If they were able to get this ration regularly.

(3) The use made of powdered and condensed milk to supplement the present ration of fresh milk.

(4) The availability and use of school milk by any school children in the family.

(5) The housewife’s attitude to the amount of the present milk ration and her ways of adapting the family diet to it.

(6) Her attitude to a possible reduction next year in the non-priority ration of two pints of milk a week for an adult, and suggested ways of meeting this. Whether she would prefer a reduction in milk or in another rationed food should restricted shipping make some reduction unavoidable.

(7) The types of retailer with which housewives were registered.

A representative sample of 2,776 housewives were interviewed in their homes or at work, at towns in six areas - Scotland, Northern England, Midlands and Wales, Southern England, Eastern England, London.

The families of the housewives in the sample were placed in three economic groups, according to the income of the principal wage earner. Information was also obtained of the number of children in the family, of the numbers in the age-groups affected by milk priorities, and of any adults receiving an extra allowance of milk.

The breakdown details for the various groups are only given where the differences are significant.

The distribution of the sample in respect of income and size of family is given in an appendix.

The inquiry was everywhere cordially received. As a food inquiry it touched closely the interests and work of the housewife, and specifically as a milk inquiry it was conducted at a time when, closely following the winter months when milk production was at its lowest, the difficulties of milk rationing were at the front of housewives’ minds. The possible zoning of milk distribution had also made them alive to another aspect of milk delivery and rationing.

2

SUMMARY

1. Only about one third of the sample knew the amount of milk to which they were entitled. Nearly two thirds of the sample did not know - 21% either under or over estimated it, and 41% gave no answer. These percentages should be treated with some reserve, since several interviewers reported their impression that many people did not like to admit knowing they received more than the ration. (Pages)

2. Nearly one-half of the households interviewed obtain more than their ration; only about a quarter receive the exact ration. The average milk consumption is just over 3 pints per person a week. The proportion who obtain more than the ration is highest in the South (60%) and East (58%) and lowest in Scotland (27%). The number receiving less than the ration is greater in the lower income groups, among priority holders and large families. The principal reason for not taking the full ration is inability to afford it. (Pages)

3. About half the sample were receiving priority milk in their families. About half of those receiving priority milk reserve this for the priority holders, the other half sharing it among the whole family. (Page)

4. About a third of the sample never use powdered milk, and a third do not use condensed milk. (These groups are not identical). The use of powdered milk is greatest in the South and East, where consumption of fresh milk is highest, and least in Scotland, where consumption of fresh milk is lowest. Powdered milk is used to a greater extent in the higher income groups, and condensed milk by those of lower income. (Pages)

5. Milk is consumed regularly at school by three quarters of the schoolchildren in the families investigated. Only seven housewives replied that milk was not available at the school. (Page)

6. Nearly two thirds of the sample said they receive less milk now than during last summer. 58% of these said they found it difficult to manage on the present ration. The principal ways of meeting the shortage were to reduce the consumption of milk puddings and milk drinks, and increase that of powdered and condensed milk. The proportion finding it difficult to manage was greater among small families with no milk priorities. It was relatively lower among those receiving less than the ration, which suggests that the hardship caused by milk shortage depends less on the amount received than on the amount the housewife was accustomed to use. (Pages)

7. 36% of the housewives said that they could not manage if the basic milk ration were further reduced next winter. The proportion saying this was greater in the small family group. Among those who thought they could manage, the principal method contemplated was an increased use of powdered milk. When asked whether they would prefer a cut in milk or a cut in other rationed foods, nearly one half said they would rather have a cut in milk. A cut in cheese was the alternative chiefly preferred by the remainder. (Pages)

8. 50% of the sample were registered with dairymen or farmers, 28% with the Co-Operative Society, and 22% with multiple dairies or combines. (Page)

3

Question 1 - “DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH MILK YOU ARE ENTITLED TO PER WEEK?”

Every informant was asked the composition of her household in respect of the age of the children living with her, and the number of adults who receive priority milk. From this data, the correct entitlements of the household were worked out and compared with the quantity the housewife thought was her entitlement.

A remarkably large proportion (nearly two-thirds) of the housewives in the sample either answered incorrectly or said they did not know their household allowance.

The figure of 41% giving the last answer should be treated with reserve. Several interviewers reported their impression that many housewives did not like to admit receiving more than their allowance.

Differences between income groups

There is some difference in the answers according to income groups.

The higher income groups showed more knowledge of their correct allowance and correspondingly fewer people who said they did not know the allowance.

Differences according to size of family

The proportion giving the correct ration decreases as the size of family becomes larger. This is probably because the make-up of the ration tends to be more complicated in larger families.

4 5

Question 2 - “ HOW MUCH MILK DID YOU GET LAST WEEK? ”

The purpose of this question was to find out whether the housewives interviewed received more, less, or the exact amount to which they were entitled. A comparison was made between the household ration and the amount received. The households were classified in three groups: those who receive their exact ration, those who get less, and those who get more.

The average amount of milk obtained in the previous week by the people in the sample was:-

3 pints per head

10 pints per household (the average size of the household was 3.3)

It is noticeable that 45% of the sample answered that they got more than the ration; this was despite the fact that some investigators felt that the information collected on this question might not be accurate, as in several cases housewives interviewed tended to understate the amount of milk they had received, particularly if they were getting more than the ration, for fear of making trouble for themselves or the milkman. This general impression is substantiated by the fact that housewives, reassured later in the interview by the investigator, sometimes returned to Question 2 to increase the amount previously given.

A few investigators found some working housewives uncertain as to the amount of milk taken in the previous week as a neighbour took in their milk for them.

The table shows that in Scotland the smallest percentage received more milk than the ration and the largest percentage less than the ration. It is interesting also to note that the largest percentage receiving the exact ration was in London. Appreciably higher percentages were getting more milk than the ration in the South (apart from London) and the East, than in the other Regions.

The percentage receiving more than the ration increases very noticeably with income, although the percentage receiving the exact ration is much the same for all incomes.

The percentage receiving more than the ration is lower as the size of family increases, and conversely the percentage obtaining less than the ration is greater in larger families.

These tables show clearly that it is the priority holders and the large families who more frequently take less than the ration, while the non-priority holders and the smaller families get more milk if they can.

The part played by convenient or inconvenient delivery in the consumption of fresh milk may be mentioned here. An interviewer from Manchester reports: “A number of people said that the milk was so late coming that they had to open a tin of liquid milk to make puddings etc., for midday and consequently when the milk arrived they did not take as much as they would otherwise do. They find it difficult to keep it overnight, as it is often not as fresh as it might be when it arrives. Therefore their consumption of fresh milk is affected”.

Another interviewer from Wolverhampton reports: “I certainly think there should be some check up on the number of times the milkman delivers in one week - one woman has 16 pints weekly, but this is delivered eight pints at one time twice weekly - this type of delivery is common in one district among people of low income groups. Whilst people in higher income groups in an adjacent area are given daily deliveries from same type of dairy”.

Freshness or “blueness” of milk obviously affects consumption:- “This point of staleness of milk, even in winter time, comes up again and again”.

Question 2A - “IF THAT IS LESS THAN YOU ARE ENTITLED TO, WHAT IS THE REASON FOR IT?”

Note: A number of people answered this question despite the fact that they had stated at the beginning of the interview that they did not know the exact amount to which they were entitled, but had a vague feeling that they got less than they should.

It is significant that of the 433 who thought they received less milk than the ration, 47% said they had sufficient. Unfortunately the number of households involved is too small for an analysis to be made of their family composition and milk priorities.

Reasons included in “Miscellaneous” were family rearrangements, preference for condensed milk, delay in arranging priorities, and the fact that the Co-op does not supply half pint bottles.

6

Question 3 - “ DO YOU USE POWDERED MILK OR CONDENSED MILK? “

The tendency is to use powdered milk regularly, while condensed milk is reserved more for occasional use.

There are significant regional differences in the percentages not using powdered and condensed milk.

The highest percentages who never use powdered milk are in Scotland, where consumption of fresh milk is lowest. In contrast, the highest percentages using powdered milk are in the South and East, where the highest consumption of fresh milk occurs.

There are considerable differences between income groups in the numbers using powdered and condensed milk.

There is a marked tendency for the use of powdered milk to increase with income. The highest income group uses condensed milk to a smaller extent.

There are no significant differences in the use of powdered or condensed milk among families of varying size.

7

Question 3A - “IF YOU DO NOT USE POWDERED MILK, WHY NOT?”

The most frequent reasons are “Don’t need it” and “Don’t like it”

Among the few miscellaneous reasons is: “No sugar to use with it”, - and this reason inspired some of the “Prefer condensed” answers as shortage of sugar as well as of milk is responsible for the use of condensed milk, especially in puddings.

Comparison with Tables IV and X shows that in Scotland where consumption of fresh and powdered milk is lowest, the largest number of housewives gave “Don’t need it” as a reason for not using the latter. It is natural that here too is the lowest percentage who do not like powdered milk as there is small experience of it.

The dislike of powdered milk is greater in the lower income groups. It was shown above that these groups use powdered milk to a less extent.

8

Question 4A - “ HOW MANY CHILDREN TAKE MILK AT SCHOOL ?”

864 of the sample of 2776 housewives had one or more children at school. The number of such children was 918 and the following table classifies their consumption of milk at school:

In the great majority of families all the children at school regularly take school milk. The remainder roughly one quarter, is divided fairly equally into children who occasionally take school milk and those who never take it. Only seven housewives replied that milk was not available at the schools attended by their children.

Interviewers reported a number of complaints, most frequently that the milk was too cold for the children’s enjoyment, often of its late arrival so that it had to be drunk too near dinner time, and occasionally of the poor quality of the school milk.

9

Question 6 - “ DO YOU FIND IT DIFFICULT TO MANAGE ON THE AMOUNT YOU GET NOW? ”

(Only housewives who were quite sure they were now buying less milk than during the summer months were asked this question.)

More than half of the housewives who buy less milk now than during the summer months find it difficult to manage.

Group Differences . The following group percentages on this question refer to the number of housewives who answered.

The proportion of housewives who find difficulty in managing on the present ration is appreciably lower in Scotland, where consumption of fresh, powdered and condensed milk was seen above to be lowest also. (Tables IV and X). It appears therefore that in Scotland the housewife normally uses less milk.

The highest percentage who find it difficult to manage on the present ration is in London, where consumption of fresh milk is also relatively low, but consumption of powdered and condensed milk is the highest of all Regions. This high consumption of tinned milk, combined with the fact that London provides the highest percentage taking the exact ration of fresh milk and a low percentage taking more than the ration, suggest that the organisation of rationing may be more strict in London. It also suggests that the housewife in London wants more milk than in other areas and is more aware of the value of milk substitutes.

There are differences according to size of family and the holding of milk priorities. The very small households with no priorities have more difficulty in managing on the present ration.

Analysis by income shows no significant differences in answer among the income groups.

The following table shows the difficulty housewives experience in managing on the ration according to whether they get more, less, or the exact ration.

There is greatest difficulty in the groups which receive the exact ration or more than the ration. This suggests that the hardship experienced through milk shortage depends less on the amount received than on the amount the housewife was accustomed to use.

Question 6A - “ IF YOU DO NOT FIND IT DIFFICULT TO MANAGE, WHY NOT? ”

Thus the chief reasons are either that the fresh milk taken is sufficient or that it is supplemented satisfactorily by tinned or powdered milk.

10

Question 6B - “IF YOU DO FIND IT DIFFICULT, IN WHAT WAYS DO YOU MANAGE?”

The curtailing of puddings and milk drinks are evidently the chief ways in which the housewife adapts the family menu to the milk shortage.

There are no significant regional differences.

Analysis by income shows a noticeable trend in two ways of meeting the milk shortage, the use of more tinned milk and the cutting down of milk drinks.

Again conservatism in the use of tinned milk to supplement milk ration is apparent in the lower income groups. The decline in those cutting down milk drinks follows the decline in income, probably because, as other surveys have shown, less fresh milk is drunk in households in lower income groups.

Question 7 - “DO YOU RESERVE MILK ESPECIALLY FOR ANY MEMBER OF THE FAMILY ?

Three percentages worth noting are revealed by the first analysis of answers. Of the full sample, 24% keep priority milk for priority holders, 21% share out priority milk among the whole family, and 30% share out non-priority milk among the whole family.

There are no significant regional differences.

The two lower income groups have a higher percentage of housewives sharing priority milk among the whole family, 25% and 21%, compared with 16% of housewives in the highest income group. Several interviewers reported that they met many cases of families with small children where, although the larger proportion of milk was set aside for the children, the rest of the family had some of their cheaper priority milk and, consequently, no non-priority milk was taken by the family.

11

Question 7A - “ WHY DO YOU SET ASIDE MILK FOR ANY MEMBER OF THE FAMILY ESPECIALLY ?”

The only reasons recurring with any frequency are ill health, old age, and the needs of one particular child over another. The only one of these three groups untouched by any Government priority is, of course, the old people who, while not suffering from any specific disease, eat less solid food and rely more on milk foods.

There are no significant regional or income differences.

Question 8 - “ HOW COULD YOU MANAGE IF THE MILK ALLOWANCE MADE TO NON-PRIORITY CONSUMERS HAD TO BE LESS THAN 2 PINTS A WEEK NEXT YEAR? ”

36% of the 2,776 housewives interviewed replied simply that they could not manage, 6% did not know, and 10% replied that they would just have to go without. Of the remainder, 11% replied that they could manage on less milk, and 27% that the only way to meet such an emergency was the greater use of powdered milk, qualified by some with the condition if powdered milk were in good supply, unrationed, or with a small “points” value.

The regional analysis of this question supports former deductions by showing that Scotland has the smallest percentage, 24%, and London has the highest percentage, 56%, who replied that they could not manage. There are no other significant regional differences.

The income analysis shows definite trends in the three chief answers.

Thus in the lower income groups there is a more positive response that it would be possible to manage on a reduced ration, but again a greater conservatism in the contemplated use, as well as present use, of powdered milk.

Analysis by families holding and not holding milk priorities show a larger proportion of families without priority replying that it would be impossible to manage on a reduced ration.

Analysis by family composition shows a decline in those who could not manage and an increase in those who could manage following increase in family size, a result which again shows the greater hardship of the small family.

12

Question 9 - “ WOULD YOU PREFER TO HAVE THE CUT MADE IN OTHER RATIONED FOODS? ”

This result should be considered partly in the light of several interviewers’ comments that housewives found this question difficult to answer and could not, with any considerable assurance, state readily a preference on a still hypothetical question. Frequently a housewife first replied that she could not manage on less milk, but then, on considering other rationed foods, would decide that neither could she manage with less of any other rationed commodities, and so finally would reply ‘No’. She would often add that fresh milk was the one rationed food for which there are marketable substitutes.

There are no noticeable regional differences, but interesting differences emerge from the income analysis.

There is less desire to have the cut made in other rationed foods in the two lower income groups.

Analysis by priority and non-priority milk holders shows that housewives with milk priorities place a particular importance on milk and although their families would not be so severely affected by reduction in non-priority milk, a higher percentage, 31% as against 25% of non-priority milk holders, replied that ‘Yes, a cut in other rationed foods would be preferable, and a lower percentage, 45% compared with 51% of non-priority milk holders, replied ‘No, they would not prefer the cut in other rationed foods’.

Analysis by family size shows the family of 3 or 4 members with the highest percentage preferring a cut in other rationed foods and the lowest percentage preferring a cut in milk.

Question 9A - “IF YES, IN WHICH RATIONED FOOD WOULD YOU PREFER THE CUT?”

Cheese is clearly the main choice for the cut. It is worth nothing that the second reduction in the cheese ration was made at the beginning of this enquiry.

13

Question 10 - “WITH WHOM ARE YOU REGISTERED FOR MILK ?”

Evidently half the housewives interviewed buy milk from an individual farmer or dairyman.

The area analysis shows that London has the smallest percentage of housewives buying from a Farmer or Dairyman and the largest percentage, buying from a multiple dairy. Scotland shows here a closer similarity to London than any other area in England. The South has the largest proportion of housewives receiving milk from a Farmer or Dairyman and the smallest buying from the Co-operative Society.

Note: In some cases housewives had more than one source of milk supply.

Analysis by income shows a decrease in housewives buying milk from a Farmer or Dairyman following decline in income. The smallest percentage supplied by the Co-operative Society, is in the highest income group - 15%.

14

APPENDIX I
SAMPLE

DISTRIBUTION BY REGIONAL AREA

Interviews for the different regional areas took place in the following towns:-

Scotland : Glasgow, Greenock, Wishaw, Hamilton.

North: Newcastle, Jarrow, Chester-le-Street, Rotherham, Leeds, Bradford, Pontefract, Sheffield, Doncaster, Manchester, Rochdale, Oldham, Bolton, Blackburn, Liverpool, Wallasey, Widnes, Preston.

Midlands : Nottingham, Derby, Birmingham, Nuneaton, Dudley, Warwick, Wolverhampton, Walsall, Tamworth, Cardiff, Bridgend, Pontypridd, Leicester, Loughborough, Spalding.

South Buckingham, Aylesbury, Wendover, Bristol, Bath, Exeter, Crediton, Tunbridge Wells, Westerham, Sevenoaks, Maidstone, Winchester, Southampton.

East : Peterborough, Huntingdon, Watlington, Ipswich.

London : Finchley, Edgware, Ealing, Mitcham, Lambeth, Bethnal Green, Poplar, St. Pancras, Greenwich.

DISTRIBUTION BY INCOME

Interviews were conducted proportionately in the following income groups:-

DISTRIBUTION BY FAMILY SIZE

APPENDIX II
MILK ENTITLEMENTS PER WEEK DURING PERIOD OF INVESTIGATION

Children up to 1 year - 14 pts. (7 pts. on R.B.2 and 7 pts. on mother’s ration book)

Children 1 year 1 day to 5 years - 7 pts. (holders of R.B.2)

Children 5 years 1 day to 18 years - 3 1/2 pts.

Adults (priority groups) - (7 pts. (doctor’s certificate for nursing mothers, invalids, etc.)

(14 pts.

Adults - 2 pts.

15 16

APPENDIX III
THE QUESTIONNAIRE

WARTIME SOCIAL SURVEY

New Series Regional H. 11

CONSUMPTION OF MILK

Name of Interviewer......... Date.........

Town:

1. Do you know how much milk you are entitled to per week?

(In pints).........

D.N.K. .........5 N.A. .........6

2. How much did you get last week? In pints

2a. If that is less than you are entitled to, what is the reason for it?

2c. Have you been short every week during the last month, or only occasionally?

Every week..........1 Occasionally.........2 N.A..........3 D.N.A..........4

3. Do you use:

3a. If you do not use powdered milk, why not?.........

4. How many of your children go to school, or nursery school?.........

4a. How many children take milk at school?

Regularly.........

Occasionally.........

Never.........

School milk not available.........

N.A.........

5. Approximately how much milk did you take during one week last summer?

(In pints).........

6. If less milk is now received than during the summer months, do you find it difficult to manage with the amount you now get?

N.A. .........1 Uncertain .........2 Yes .........3 No .........4

6a. If no, why not?.........

6b. If yes, in what way? (Cutting out, or cutting down certain milk foods. Letting certain members of the family go short (prompt).

7. Do you reserve for any member of your family milk especially, and why?

8. How would you manage if the milk allowance made to non -priority consumers had to be less than 2 pints a week next year?

9. Would you prefer to have the cut made in the supply of other rationed food?

Yes .........1 Uncertain .........2 No .........3 N.A. .........4

9a. If yes, which?.........

10. With whom are you registered for milk?

WARTIME SOCIAL SURVEY

Investigators

Mrs. Nash

Miss Hounsfield

Dr. Maule

Miss McVail

Miss Reynolds

Miss Phillips

Mrs. Cowne

Mrs. Thomas

Miss Malheiro

Mrs. Edwards

Miss Palmer

Miss Webber

Mrs. Pamely-Evans

Miss Bedell

Miss Roe

Miss Sunderland

Miss Barker

Miss Hague

Miss Angus

Miss Mulvey

Miss Mitchell