We Must Conserve Food to Keep the Wolf from Our Own Door
A woman with a child at her side aims a rifle from a log-cabin doorway at a wolf on a rock outcrop, above a dense text panel on food shortages in Europe. The text lists small weekly or daily reductions in wheat, meat, sugar and fats, warns that restriction orders may follow, and closes on 'the Duty of Saving Food to Your Country and Humanity'; the wolf-at-the-door image supplies the fear appeal.
Propaganda techniques used in this poster
- Date
- 1917
- Period
- First World War
- Made by
- Unattributed food-conservation appeal (printed space contributed by an advertiser)
- Region
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Medium
- Poster
- Issuer type
- Mixed
- Regime
- Wilson Administration
- Leader
- Woodrow Wilson
- Audience
- Domestic public
- Purpose
- Mobilize or secure compliance
- Themes
- Home front, Economy and finance
- 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
Unattributed food-conservation appeal (printed space contributed by an advertiser). National Archives and Records Administration, 4-P-120.
Text on the object
We Must Conserve Food To Keep the Wolf from Our Own Door Scarcity of food is exacting greater death toll and causing more intense suffering in Europe than bullets. This frightful, unprecedented predicament of starving millions of allied families SOUNDS a solemn warning to America. Appalling Conditions Threaten America If We Waste Our Foods Our supply of food is only so much—and now five or six other countries are depending on us to feed them that they may live and fight. The authorities merely request that you eat— ONE POUND LESS OF WHEAT FLOUR A WEEK— which means one hundred and thirty-three million bushels of wheat more annually for emergency or two thousand million loaves of bread; ONE OUNCE LESS OF MEAT A DAY— which means four million four hundred thousand meat animals each year for excess demands; ONE OUNCE LESS OF SUGAR A DAY— which means one million one hundred and eighty-five thousand tons of sugar a year, making it plentiful and cheap; ONE-THIRD OF AN OUNCE LESS OF FATS A DAY— which means three hundred and ninety-five thousand tons more fats each year from which to make glycerine, used for manufacturing explosives. Complying with this request from today on will materially help to win the war and Prevent the Government from Issuing Food Restriction Orders Do not buy more food than you actually need—then the dealer will not have to "stock up"—and the wholesaler will have enough to go around. Less Eating Will Save Many a Pain and Doctor Bill A Little Saved Today Will Mean Square Meals Next Year You Owe the Duty of Saving Food to Your Country and Humanity Space for This Message Cheerfully Contributed to the Cause of Humanity by [blank] [illustrator's signature and a small copyright line below the picture, partly illegible]
Body text is small but now legible. The artist signature and the small copyright line under the picture are partly illegible and not transcribed.
