300 Million Hungry People Are Watching Your Plate: Eat Less, Waste Nothing
A text-led sheet over a pen drawing of a half-finished meal asks the reader whether any food is left on the plate, then names Serbia, Poland, Belgium and Armenia as places where people have starved. The tell is the pairing of a famine claim with a request for 'Simple Living, Clean Plates, No Extra Meal', with Uncle Sam as the stated voice.
Propaganda techniques used in this poster
- Date
- 1918
- Period
- First World War
- Made by
- U.S. Food Administration (Illinois Educational Division, Chicago)
- Region
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Medium
- Poster
- Issuer type
- State
- Regime
- Wilson Administration
- Leader
- Woodrow Wilson
- Audience
- Domestic public
- Purpose
- Mobilize or secure compliance
- Themes
- Home front, Health
- Event
- World War I
- Regime
- Wilson administration
- Leader
- Woodrow Wilson
- Source
- Identified Openly sourced: the speaker is who they say they are
- Source
- U.S. National Archives (NARA), RG 4 (U.S. Food Administration), World War I Posters (NAID 512439), retrieved October 3, 2026
- Rights
- NARA Unrestricted; hosted by owner decision
U.S. Food Administration (Illinois Educational Division, Chicago). National Archives and Records Administration, 4-P-118.
Text on the object
300 Million Hungry People Are Watching Your Plate When you have finished your meal—is there any food left on your plate—did you order or serve yourself more than you needed? In Serbia, Poland, Belgium, Armenia and in other countries thousands upon thousands of people, old and young have starved to death. Although the military victory is now ours, we must, for the safety of the world—to make our victory complete—fight the great spectre of famine that is stalking through Europe. Uncle Sam asks for Simple Living— Clean Plates— No Extra Meal. If you have been thoughtless in your kitchen—at your table—in the restaurant—start with your next meal and do your share in this great reconstruction work. Eat less waste nothing UNITED STATES FOOD ADMINISTRATION Illinois Educational Division CHICAGO
