Rationing began with sugar, butter and bacon, but soon expanded to cover all meat, eggs, milk and tea. Anything made with these foods was also rationed, so cheese, jam, sweets and other foods were only available on ration. Imported foods especially were in short supply during the war, but food rationing continued after the Second World War ended. Sweets only came off ration in 1953, and meat in 1954.

This book was issued to Muriel Thomas of 4, The Paragon, Clifton, for the year 1947-8, two years after the end of the war.