A Message About Food... From the President of the United States
An all-text sheet in white on dark blue under the Great Seal, signed 'Harry Truman', stating that millions face famine and listing five requests: eat less wheat, fats and oils, balance the diet, keep victory gardens, preserve food, waste none. The tell is a fear-appeal about famine paired with the presidential seal and signature as authority.
Propaganda techniques used in this poster
- Date
- 1946
- Period
- Cold War
- Made by
- The President of the United States (Harry S. Truman)
- Region
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Medium
- Poster
- Issuer type
- State
- Regime
- Truman Administration
- Leader
- Harry S. Truman
- Audience
- Domestic public
- Purpose
- Mobilize or secure compliance
- Themes
- Home front, Economy and finance, Health
- Event
- World War II
- Source
- Identified Openly sourced: the speaker is who they say they are
- Source
- U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 44, World War II Posters, retrieved October 4, 2026
- Rights
- Public domain (U.S. government work)
The President of the United States. National Archives and Records Administration, RG 44, 44-PA-281 (NAID 513730).
Text on the object
A Message About Food . . . FROM THE PRESIDENT of the UNITED STATES Millions of people face famine in the war-torn world! I call upon every American to help save lives: Eat less wheat products, fats, and oils. Balance your diet with foods which are plentiful. Keep up your victory garden. Preserve food at home. Waste no food. Famine and peace cannot go together. It is up to all of us to see that food saves lives and strengthens peace everywhere in the world. [signature:] Harry Truman WASHINGTON, D. C. 1946 [imprint:] U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1946 [number illegible]
