The contents of an American food parcel, 1 December 1946.

'Food-parcels from Eire will be banned from next January 1. All parcels, whether gifts or not, sent after that date will be seized if they contain articles first imported by Eire - canned and dried fruit, table jellies, chocolates and sweets. The decision, announced in the House of Commons yesterday by Dr Edith Summerskill, Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food, will end a boom and a racket'.