---
title: Lick the platter clean. Don't waste food.
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/lick-the-platter-clean-1943/
description: A cartoon elderly man in a green cap and a smiling girl in an apron hold up an empty round platter, under the headline 'Lick the platter clean'
section: Collection
---

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3. Lick the platter clean. Don't waste food.

[![Lick the platter clean. Don't waste food., 1943 US poster: A cartoon elderly man in a green cap and a smiling girl](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/lick-the-platter-clean-1943.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/lick-the-platter-clean-1943.jpg)

# Lick the platter clean. Don't waste food.

A cartoon elderly man in a green cap and a smiling girl in an apron hold up an empty round platter, under the headline 'Lick the platter clean' and the line 'Don't waste FOOD'. The technique is faint here: a friendly, folk-tale style carries a plain household request, with no enemy and no stated reason.

## Propaganda techniques used in this poster

[Plain folks](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/plain-folks/) [Glittering generalities](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/glittering-generalities/)

## Text on the object

Original (English) · read from the image, not independently checked

```
LICK THE PLATTER CLEAN

Don't Waste FOOD

[imprint: WAR FOOD ADMINISTRATION; remaining small print illegible]
[signature: Vernon Grant]
```

[← 'Let's go cherry-blossom viewing' (anti-war league leaflet to Japanese troops)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/lets-go-cherry-blossom-viewing-jpal-leaflet-1943/) [Lieut. Wilmeth Sidat-Singh - Fighter Pilot, Athlete →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/lieut-wilmeth-sidat-singh-fighter-pilot-athlete-alston-1943/)

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- ['This log cabin was the first building erected on the North Bend', Whig print by T. Sinclair, 1840](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/harrison-north-bend-log-cabin-sinclair-1840/) (United States · 1840 · Plain folks, Transfer)
- [Treeing Coons (pro-Polk cartoon), 1844](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/treeing-coons-polk-1844/) (United States · 1844 · Name-calling, Plain folks)
- [Zachary Taylor, People's Candidate for President (Currier banner), 1848](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/taylor-fillmore-peoples-candidate-1848/) (United States · 1848 · Plain folks, Glittering generalities)
- ['Little Mac.' (from the Democratic presidential campaign songster)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/little-mac-song-sheet-feeks-1864/) (United States · 1864 · Bandwagon, Plain folks)
- [The peoples' choice, H. Greeley G. Brown](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/peoples-choice-greeley-brown-1872/) (United States · 1872 · Bandwagon, Plain folks)
- [The working-man's banner. For President, Ulysses S. Grant, 'The Galena Tanner.' For Vice-President, Henry Wilson, 'The Natick Shoemaker.'](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/working-mans-banner-grant-1872/) (United States · 1872 · Plain folks, Transfer)
- [The Chappaqua farmer](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/chappaqua-farmer-1872/) (United States · Jul 1872 · Plain folks, Glittering generalities)