As the Great War progressed, the press of Allied countries loved to publish exaggerated stories of how desperate things were in starving, surely soon-to-surrender Germany. The Goulburn Evening Penny Post ran such a tale 100 years ago today.
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"FOODS IN GERMANY. STARTLING SUBSTITUTES.
"How Germany is compelled to find substitute foods is exposed in a striking article in the Daily Chronicle. The writer, who made a close examination of the German newspapers, republishes some of the advertisements of synthetic foods.
"There are various substitutes for coffee, including acorn coffee, and sunflower oil replaces olive oil.
"There is a wonderful array of artificial honeys. The [Berlin [press] has advertisements for three kinds of honey, solid, fluid and powder (the latter sold in packets).
"One firm has this recipe for honey: 'Two pounds sugar, half a pint of water, and a packet of honey powder. The result is as good as bees' honey.' "
"Pohl of Berlin offer substitute powders for eggs, sausages, and honey.
"A Munich paper advertises, 'For fleshless days, we recommend A.I. assorted stone fungus' (a kind of toadstool)."
"The hundreds of advertisements of wooden shoes reveal a shortage of leather. Imitation leather of flannel canvas is offered.
"There are many advertisements of buyers offering high prices for fats. Reuters' Amsterdam correspondent states that the German minister of commerce has instructed local authorities throughout the country to prohibit the once popular slaughter feasts, at which farmers kill fatted swine."
