history of meals for millions, soy, and freedom from ... - SoyInfo Center

humanitarian venture. He has never been able to launch a
drive for funds in this thriving business city.
First he was told to wait until after the Community
Chest drive (to meet local welfare needs) was over. Then he
was told to delay the drive so it would not interfere with
Christmas shopping. Then someone quoted President
Truman’s Famine Emergency Relief Committee as saying
that the danger of post-war starvation was past.
“In the past, Mr. Clinton has had some political
ambitions in this city. There are those who hint that a drive”
to relieve overseas famine “might have enhanced his local
political position unduly.”
But that sort of thinking would not make much sense to
the masses now reported to be starving in war-torn countries
abroad–such as Moldavia (in northern Romania), Austria,
Greece, Italy, Poland, and Yugoslavia. Address: CSM
Pacific News Bureau.
44. Lodi News-Sentinel (California).1947. Dehydrated food
to be introduced: Church to back local “Meals for Millions”
plan. Sept. 26. p. 1.
• Summary: “‘Meals for Millions,’ a new food
manufactured especially to save Europe’s starving millions,
will be introduced to the Lodi public for the first time
Friday evening, October 3, at the First Congregational
Church.
“Some 1,500 meals of the ‘wonder’ food will be served
to the public,” prepared in various ways, by members of the
Pilgrim Fellowship, the church’s youth organization. A
green salad will also be served.
“Formerly known as Multi-Purpose Food, ‘Meals for
Millions’ were created only a year ago by Clifford E.
Clinton, owner of the Clinton Cafes in Los Angeles.
“Assigned job: Clinton was asked by the government to
prepare some type of dehydrated food that was tasty,
economical, easy to prepare, and easy to preserve. ‘Meals
for Millions’ was the result.
“The food, when cooked alone, is said to have the
flavor of tamale pie, but it rapidly takes the flavor of any
food with which it is cooked. It costs but 3 cents per meal
and is not made of materials valuable to the United States.
“One million meals can be transported in one airplane
at a time in the vacuum tight tins in which it is stored. In
appearance it resembles corn meal and will not spoil. Three
million meals of the food have already been served to
Europe’s starving.
“The food may be sent to foreign countries only
through reputable organizations which include churches,
war relief agencies, Save the Children Federation, and
others listed in the pamphlet available to interested persons.
“Not for profit: Clinton, who has formed a corporation
called ‘Meals for Millions Foundation,’ declares that the
organization is organized for humanitarian purposes and is
MEALS FOR MILLIONS, SOY, AND FREEDOM FROM HUNGER 32
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not operated for a profit. Persons wishing to contribute to
the Foundation may do so at Friday’s dinner meeting.
Note: Was the food really called “Meals for Millions” at
this time? Did the government ask Clifford Clinton to
develop it?
45. Lodi News-Sentinel (California).1947. Low cost food
now on view. Sept. 30. p. 8.
• Summary: “‘Meals for Millions,’ a new dehydrated food
which will be introduced to the Lodi community for the first
time Friday night in the First Congregational Church, may
now be seen on display in the Lodi Public Library.
“Especially arranged to explain the food’s caloric value,
the exhibit consists of a variety of foods common to use in
the United States which are equal in caloric value to the
displayed can of meal. Miss Amy Boynton, head librarian,
arranged the display.
“Some 1,500 meals of the new food will be prepared in
various ways and served with a green salad to interested
persons, regardless of denomination, Friday night. The meal
is entirely free of charge, but a collection will be taken up to
help the church’s youth organization send some of the food
to Europe. Movies concerning the food and Europe’s
starving will be shown during the meal and records will be
played to help promote the drive.
“Instructions will be given Friday night as to how the
public may help finance the transporting of the food to
Europe.”
46. Stuart, Roger. 1947. Substitute food may go to Europe:
Shortage at home may compel it. Pittsburg Press
(Pennsylvania). Oct. 10. p. 12.
• Summary: Washington, DC–The food shortage is forcing
government relief agencies to consider shipment of low-cost
food substitutes to feed Europe’s starving millions.
“‘One substitute under consideration is a by-product of
the soybean called “multi-purpose food.” Its cost is about
three cents a meal. Its backers–Meals for Millions
Foundation, Inc., of Los Angeles–say that though it makes
no use of meat or cereals other than soybean, it is both tasty
and high in nutritive value.’”
“W.J. Garvin, assistant chief of the Civil Affairs
Division, said the Foundation has been asked for quotations
on lots of 3,000 and 5,000 tons of ‘multi-purpose food’ per
month. Five thousand tons would provide 90 million meals.
“The food was developed by Dr. Henry Borsook with
the aid of grants from Clifford E. Clinton, now president of
Meals for Millions, and the California Dehydrators Assn.
“Two ounces for one meal: Two ounces (dry weight) of
the food, according to Foundation officials, when cooked
for 10 minutes, provide an eight-ounce serving. This is said
to contain one-third of the normal requirements of a person
for one day, with the exception of Vitamin C. Vitamin C
does not survive cooking. It can be supplied by any