Diagram showing the weekly butchers meat ration allowed for an adult (with children receiving half the amount). Rationing was introduced at the end of World War One when ships carrying food from abroad were being routinely attacked by German U-boats and food was needed to feed soldiers at the front, consequently causing people to panic buy. New laws were introduced by the British Government to combat the problem. Ration books were issued that gave both rich and poor the same amount of food every week.