Evening star., 1943-02-22
Canned Foods
Buying |sCut
81 Pct. by 0PA
Point Volues Fixed;
Price Rise for Fresh
Vegetables Likely

TABLE SHOWING point values for
all processed foods, Page A-l0
REGISTRATION GUIDE and form
for declaring food in hand
Page A-10
Americans got ready to take
up a few notcheS in their belts
today as the Office of Price Adj
ministration announced a "scant
ration pro>am starting next
Monday that will cut the con-
sumption of canned foods almost
ST per cent below the level of last
year.
Admittedly facing what OpA Ad-
mtnistrator Prentiss Brown de-
Scribed as a crisis in the food
situation, the OPA last night set
a scale of values so stringent for
the new War Ration Book No. 2
that consumers will be able to buy
only three or four cans a month Of
the products which have been most
in demard-peas or corn, for ex-
ample.
AS a result, it was expected that
there would be heavy demand for
fresh foods. especially this week,
when all sales OF the rationed foods
are halteo-and a sharp increase in
the prices Of seasonal fruits and
vegetables was looked for as the
immediate result of this situation.
There are no price ceilings on fresh
a
shortage is developing in these lines
AS adverse weather has practically
wiped out many Florida crops.
During this week grocers are for
hidden to sell any canned fruits.
vegetables, fish, meat, soups. baby
food or frozen or dried varieties,
However, consumers can buy any,
thing else, including bread, milk, ce-
reals tincluding canned cereals for
babies, soap, cheese, fresh fruits
and vegetables, fresh meat, paper
products, etc.
Point Value Important.
The announcement by the OPA
of the point values for processed
foods introduced an entirely new
element into shopping. The house
wife from now on will pay less at
| tentlon to the price value of the
rationed items than she will to the
point value.
During March, each person will
be allowed to buy 48 points worth of
processed foods-canned, dried or
frozen. This number of points will
| buy a good deal of some kinds of
food-sauerkraut or canned soup,
for instance--but very little of other
types. such as pineapple juice or
| dried prunes.
Canned soups, in the usual 1012-
| ounce can, will cost points per can.
Sauerkraut, in cans of weight be-
tween one pound two ounces and
one pound six ounces. will set the
consumer back only five points.
But to get medium sized can of
pineapple juice, a buyer will have
to surrender 81 poirrs-or nearly
half months ration. pound of
prunes-or raisins-will cost 20
points.
The point values for fruits, in the
commonly used No. 2 and 2la can
size, ranged from Is to 81 points per
can; for vegetables, in the same size
cans, from 10 points for baked
beams to 16 points for lima beams.
Prunes and Raisins Scarce.
Prunes and raisins, which are
scarce, were given high point value
Of 20 among the dried fruits, but
other dried fruits will go for points
per pound
Frozen fruits and vegetables had
point values, generally, of 10 points
for packages of between 10 and ID
ounces and l3 points for packages
between IA ounces and pound 2
ounces.
The following values were set for
baby foods: Cans of 5l2 ounces and
less, one point; cans of up to
ounces, two points.
The point values for dried beans,
peas and lentils, which were brought
under rationing Saturday night, will
be announced later
Point Values Enumerated.
Here are the point values an,
nounced by OPA for ordinary sized
cans of the most popular types of
canned foods:
Tomatoes l6 points; corn, aspara-
gus and green beans, IA points;
spinach, II points; sliced pineapple,
"a points; pears and peaches, 2l
points; grapefruit q pound
ounce cam, 10 points; fruit cocktail
Il pound ounce), IL points; pine
apple and tomato juice (46-ounce
cans, 80 points; grapefruit juice
(46-ounce cans), % points; grape
juice Il quartz, Is points.
The point value of different foods
depends. OF course, on the quantity.
tSee RATIONING, Page A-10)