'Food and Nutrition (Great Britain and Ireland)' in International Encyclopedia of the First World War

During the First World War, food was a major concern across Britain and Ireland. Fighting at sea disrupted food imports, a problem that worsened from 1917. Domestic production struggled to keep pace with demand. Britain continued to export food out of Ireland, raising fears of starvation reminiscent of the Famine. In Ireland, food became a deeply politicised matter. State-supported initiatives in both countries encouraged self-sufficiency by producing food, with varying degrees of success. Food costs rose exponentially, although historians differ on the health consequences, both long- and short-term.