Why did soldiers eat chocolate?

Chocolate rations served two purposes: as a morale boost, and as a high-energy, pocket-sized emergency ration. Military chocolate rations are often made in special lots to military specifications for weight, size, and endurance. The majority of chocolate issued to military personnel is produced by the Hershey Company.

Did soldiers eat chocolate in ww1?

As in the First World War, soldiers were also issued with an emergency iron ration, usually consisting of high-energy foods like chocolate.

Why was chocolate used as a weapon?

A combination of fat and oat produced very dense chocolate with a bitter taste. The fall of Normandy to Allied troops was a turning point in the war, and the energy that kept American soldiers moving came mainly from the Hershey Chocolate. That made Hershey’s chocolate a part of America’s weapon during the war.

How was chocolate used in war?

In fact, the U.S. War Department collaborated with chocolate manufacturers to produce Ration D bars, especially suitable for extreme temperatures sometimes encountered on the front. The Ration D chocolate bar was designed to withstand extreme temperatures and provide substantial energy for troops.

Why the candy bar market exploded after ww1?

Because a lack of widespread refrigeration and transportation issues remained a barrier to national distribution, regional brands dominated each market, creating bars with names that appealed to local pride.

What popular chocolate candy was originally developed for the armed forces?

M&Ms
1. M&Ms were inspired by rations given to soldiers during the Spanish Civil War. In 1932, after a falling out with his father and business partner, Forrest Mars Sr. of the Mars candy company moved to England, where he began manufacturing Mars bars for troops.

What did the Ration D bar taste like?

It was called the U.S. Army Field Ration D and it tasted about as appetizing as the name suggests — a little bit better than a boiled potato.

Why is chocolate a survival food?

Chocolate is one of the best survival foods that one must carry with them at all times during such situations. That is because it contains three of the main components of food; protein, fat and carbohydrates. It also contains some vitamins and minerals as well.

When did candy bars become popular?

By the end of the 1920s, more than 40,000 different candy bars were being made in the U.S., says Susan Benjamin, candy historian and author of Sweet as Sin: The Unwrapped Story of How Candy Became America’s Favorite Pleasure.

How did candy become popular?

Fruit-shaped hard candy is a common type of sugar candy, containing sugar, color, flavor, and a tiny bit of water. Chikki are homemade nut brittles popular in India. Between the nuts or seeds is hard sugar candy. German Haribo gummy bears were the first gummi candy ever made.

Who made the first chocolate bar?

J.S. Fry
For much of the 19th century, chocolate was enjoyed as a beverage; milk was often added instead of water. In 1847, British chocolatier J.S. Fry and Sons created the first chocolate bar molded from a paste made of sugar, chocolate liquor and cocoa butter.

Who invented chocolate candy?

Joseph Fry
The creation of the first modern chocolate bar is credited to Joseph Fry, who in 1847 discovered that he could make a moldable chocolate paste by adding melted cacao butter back into Dutch cocoa. By 1868, a little company called Cadbury was marketing boxes of chocolate candies in England.

Did World War II soldiers eat chocolate bars?

Unfortunately for the US soldiers of World War II, the chocolate bars the army gave them tasted like they were intended for use in the bath. The K ration was the standard ration for a WWII soldier in the field. Chocolate (far right, middle) was part of it. (National Archives) In the army’s defense, it wasn’t trying to win any culinary awards.

Why did the Army use Hershey bars in WW1?

In search of a lightweight, nutritious and high-energy snack for soldiers, the U.S. Army turned to Hershey. The results weren’t exactly a sweet treat. In search of a lightweight, nutritious and high-energy snack for soldiers, the U.S. Army turned to Hershey.

What kind of food did soldiers eat during WW1?

At various points during the war, men could find powdered orange or lemon drink, caramels, chewing gum and—of course—more chocolate. In addition to chocolate, Hershey also produced parts for naval anti-aircraft guns. And the company wasn’t the only food titan of the era that joined the nationwide effort to support American troops.

How much chocolate did Hershey make in WW2?

By war’s end, Hershey had won five awards for production and quality while making 40.2 million 2-ounce and 4-ounce D Ration bars, and 380 million Tropical Chocolate Bars specially designed to withstand the intense heat of the tropics and the desert. Hinkle reported that sales jumped from $34.7 in 1938 to $55.5 million in 1941.