SUGAR
OF ALL THE FOODS WHICH IT IS NECESSARY TO CONSERVE, SUGAR IS THE
EASIEST TO DO WITHOUT. If the war and what it means has become part
of a person's consciousness, he wishes only the bare essentials. Sugar
is a luxury of former times which has become a commonplace to-day.
The average use in the United States was 83 pounds per person last
year--1-2/3 pounds a week--less than one hundred years ago the yearly
consumption was 9 pounds. Sugar was a rare luxury. It will do no harm
to regard it so again.
WHY IS THERE A SUGAR SHORTAGE?
Sugar is scarce for two reasons--much less beet-sugar is actually
being grown, and some of the cane-sugar is too far away to be
available. The sugar-beet, grown in temperate climates, and the
sugar-cane, native in tropical and semitropical regions, are the only
two sources of sugar large enough to be of more than local importance.
Before the war, 93 per cent of the entire world crop of beet-sugar
was grown in Europe. The industry was started by Napoleon in the early
nineteenth century when he was at war with most of Europe, and France
was shut off from her supply of cane-sugar from the West Indies. The
industry spread over the great plain of Central Europe, from the north
of France over Belgium, Germany, Austria-Hungary to Central Russia. In
1914 all of these countries were producing enough sugar for their own
needs. England produced none at all, but the continent, especially
Germany and Austria, supplied her with about 54 per cent of what she
needed.
[Illustration: MAP SHOWING LOCATION OF EUROPEAN BEET SUGAR
FACTORIES--ALSO BATTLE LINES AT CLOSE OF 1916
ESTIMATED THAT ONE-THIRD OF WORLD'S PROOUCTION BEFORE THE WAR WAS
PRODUCED WITHIN BATTLE LINES]
The beet-sugar industry in the United States started in 1863 and
has grown rapidly since 1897. In 1917 it supplied 22 per cent of the
consumption.
Sugar-cane is grown in tropical and semitropical countries all over
the globe. Cuba leads in the amount produced, and consumes only
a small fraction of her production herself. Java, too, is a large
exporter. India raises millions of tons but has to import some to
fill all her needs. In the United States, Louisiana, Texas, and some
parts of Florida produce about 6 per cent of what we use, but our
dependencies, Porto Rico, the Hawaiian Islands and the Philippines all
export to us, and together with Cuba, make up the deficiency.
The war has changed entirely the peace-time distribution. The map
shows what the battle-lines have done to the beetfields of Europe.
Belgium and the northern part of France, in which practically all
the beets were grown, are in German hands. In 1914 the battle-line
eliminated 203 of the 213 French sugar-factories. In 1916-17 the
falling back of the Germans had returned 65 factories to the French,
but now again some of these have fallen into the enemy's hands. The
French crop in 1915-16 was only one-fifth of the crop before the war
and the following year it was only a fourth. Italy's crop was 25 per
cent less in 1916-17 than before the war and the estimated yield for
this year is 50 per cent less. England, of course, can no longer get
sugar from the continent.
So the allied world must import cane-sugar or have almost no sugar
at all. The cane-sugar supply is largely dependent on shipping. Ships
cannot be spared to go to the East. Therefore the sugar of Cuba and
the rest of the West Indies, our main source of supply, must be shared
with the Allies. It is to the credit of all involved that every effort
is being made to see that the division is a fair one. A commission
representing the Allies, the United States, and Cuba apportioned the
1917-18 Cuban crop and fixed its price. Competitive bidding by the
many purchasers, with the danger of forcing up the price of the
limited supply, was in this way prevented.
THE EFFECT OF THE SHORTAGE
The rations of Europe are the most convincing evidence of the extent
of the sugar shortage. In England ½ pound a week is allowed for each
person, half the average amount used in their households before the
war. France had sugar cards long before she had any other ration.
Seven ounces a week were allowed, and later in the year only
one-quarter of a pound. Germany and Austria-Hungary in 1918 had an
average household ration of 6 ounces a week.
The United States in accordance with its usual method is asking
the individual for voluntary conservation of sugar. Each household
is asked to observe a voluntary weekly ration of not more than
three-quarters of a pound per person. Extra amounts of sugar for home
canning may be secured by making a certified declaration to the dealer
that it is to be used only for canning and preserving.
Food manufacturers using sugar are dealt with more strictly than
private individuals. Every business using sugar may purchase it only
on certificates obtained from the Federal Food Administrators. At
present manufacturers of essential products such as canned vegetables
and fruits may get the amount needed to fill their necessary
requirements. Manufacturers of less essential products get a
percentage of what they used before--at present soft-drink and candy
manufacturers get 50 per cent and ice-cream makers 75 per cent.
The decreased use of sugar has resulted in the release of the ships
which had been used to bring Cuban sugar to this country--50,000 tons
freed to carry men and munitions and food to the Western front in the
spring of 1918.
IN PLACE OF SUGAR
The United States is much more fortunate than Europe in having sweets
other than sugar at its disposal. As our corn-crop is immense,
the supply of corn-syrup is limited only by the ability of the
manufacturers to turn it out. It is a wholesome, palatable syrup and
can often take the place of sugar both in cooking and on the table.
Although it is not as sweet as ordinary sugar, it serves the body
for fuel in the same way. We have cane-syrup, and also molasses and
refiner's syrup, by-products of sugar-making, and in some parts of
the country, local products such as honey, maple sugar and syrup,
and sorghum syrup. Sweet fruits, both fresh and dried, contain
considerable amounts of sugar, some of the dried fruits being over
two-thirds sugar, and when added to cereals, for example, take the
place of part or all of the sugar.
THE PRICE OF SUGAR
In spite of the short supply, the Food Administration has kept down
the price of sugar by an agreement with the sugar-refineries that the
wholesale price must not be more than the cost of the raw sugar plus
a fixed amount to cover costs of refining. Even during December,
1917, when there was a severe shortage in the East, the price
remained stable. Refiners say that without regulation by the Food
Administration the price would have gone to 25 cents a pound or
higher.
At times the Food Administration has had to use compulsion to keep the
price level and has not hesitated to do so where necessary. Licenses
have been withdrawn for failure to comply with regulations, and
businesses closed for longer or shorter times. One dealer who was
charging 14 cents a pound for sugar had his store closed for 2 weeks;
another paid $200 to the Red Cross for overcharging; another, for
selling sugar and flour without regard to regulations, was closed
indefinitely.
TO CUT DOWN ON SUGAR
USE FEWER SWEETS OF ANY KIND AND USE SUGAR SUBSTITUTES. Sugar
does serve a desirable purpose in making certain of our foods more
palatable, but the quantity necessary for this is small, and for much
of it other sweets can be used instead. The household consumption uses
by far the largest percentage of the sugar-supply. Its economical use
also helps to provide a reserve for preserving surplus fruits. SUCH
"EXTRAS" AS CANDY AND CAKES CAN BE ENTIRELY DISPENSED WITH.
Of course, sugar is a food, as it is burned in the body for fuel.
But there are two good physiological reasons for avoiding excessive
amounts. If we eat a large quantity in candy after already sufficient
meals, we are overeating and may suffer from digestive disturbances
in consequence. Eating sweets instead of other food is also bad and a
cause of undernourishment. Sugar is pure carbohydrate, and although
we may eat enough to satisfy the feeling of hunger the body will lack
minerals, protein, and other substances absolutely necessary for
its well-being. The person may feel satisfied, but he will be
undernourished nevertheless.
The conservation of sugar will not only permit a fair distribution to
our associates in the war, but insure a sufficient amount for our own
men. It is especially valuable for them because it burns so rapidly in
the body that it gives energy more quickly than other foods.