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As well as
the 40,000 islanders that needed feeding, the
amount of German troops in the island quickly soared to 11,500, meaning
that rationing was unavoidable.
An
Essential Commodities Committee was formed to organise the importation
from France of essential foods, but by 1942 the weekly ration of butter
was two ounces, and at times the weekly ration of meat fell to just four
ounces per person.
Because of
the food shortages, islanders developed 'Ersatz' foods: sea
water was evaporated to produce salt; tea could be made from all sorts
of things - carrots, parsley, nettles, pea
pods, bramble leaves;
and coffee was made from acorns
or dried, roasted parsnips and sugarbeet.
Islanders
were also very resourceful when it came to other household necessities:
toothpaste was made from cuttlefish and ivy!
Do you have
a book with an occupation memory, or do you remember one? Tell us and
we will publish it on the site for all to see. Send you recipe to jersey@bbc.co.uk.
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