Play fair. Share the meat
Black-and-white sponsor sheet for the government's Share the Meat program. Two panels show a shopper at 10 a.m. leaving with a large roast and another at 5 p.m. finding almost nothing, with text calling it not fair or patriotic to take more than a share. The technique is faint; the appeal rests on the words fair and patriotic.
Propaganda techniques used in this advertisement
- Date
- 1941
- Period
- Second World War
- Made by
- "Share the Meat" program (sponsoring firms' box left blank)
- Region
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Medium
- Advertisement
- Issuer type
- Mixed
- Regime
- Roosevelt Administration
- Leader
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Audience
- Domestic public
- Purpose
- Mobilize or secure compliance
- Themes
- Home front, Economy and finance
- Event
- World War II
- Regime
- Roosevelt administration
- Leader
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- 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)
"Share the Meat" program. National Archives and Records Administration, RG 44, 44-PA-1515 (NAID 515181).
Text on the object
PLAY FAIR Share the Meat 10 a. m.-This woman got all the Meat 5 p. m.-So this woman got none -because she had a chance to shop early when stocks were fullest -because she had to shop late, after work, when stocks were down To insure an equal and adequate supply of this fine protein food among all Americans-no matter what they do or where they live-that's the purpose of the government's "Share the Meat" program. It is not fair or patriotic for one family to get more than its share and make another go without. Every American has a moral contract with 128 million other Americans not in uniform to give each an equal chance at the available meat supply after an adequate amount has gone to our fighters and our allies. The fair share is 2½ pounds per person per week. (Less for children under 12.) Buy only your fair share . . . make every pound count . . . share with others as you would have them share with you. These firms pledge cooperation in the "Share the Meat" program and sponsor this advertisement [box left blank]
