so that the drain on other non-perishable stocks will 

 be eased. Special efforts will be made to conserve 

 foods which are produced or processed in only a few 

 locations or are imported. 



3. Limiting consumption. It is virtually cer- 

 tain that food consumption will have to be limited, at 

 least for a time, following an all-out attack. Plans call 

 for State and local governments to initiate rationing 

 as soon as distribution is resumed. A tentative Na- 

 tional Emergency Food Consumption Standard has been 

 developed to serve as a guide in food distribution and 

 consumption. Such limits on distribution are also 

 essential to prevent hoarding. 



4. Alternate marketing and supply systems. 

 An all-out attack is certain to leave the food industry 

 with a confusing combination of shortages and excesses. 

 There may be grain without mills, and elsewhere, mills 



without grain. There may be slaughter plants with- 

 out labor, and labor whose plants are destroyed. One 

 of the biggest jobs of both Government and industry 

 will be to match the surviving resources so that they 

 can be utilized efficiently. 



None of these principles will become actualities auto- 

 matically. Their realization in an emergency will re- 

 quire diligent planning, and the planning should be 

 started immediately. There will be no time to plan 

 when the warning sounds. Those in the food indus- 

 try, and county and State government officials should 

 become acquainted with the USDA State and County 

 Defense Boards and their activities. These boards are 

 the officials from whom the food industry and farmers 

 will hear most directly and most often in emergency 

 planning and post-attack operations. 



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