ruokakortit

Ruokakortit were a rationing system used in Finland during times of food shortage, most notably during the Second World War and the immediate postwar years. They consisted of government-issued coupons or cards that limited the quantity of certain foods a person or household could purchase within a given period. The system aimed to ensure a fair distribution of scarce resources and to support the national war economy.

How the system worked varied over time and place, but in general households received one or more cards linked to family size or composition. Shoppers presented their ruokakortti at the point of sale, and the store redeemed the corresponding quotas with the authorities. The quotas were item-specific and could change as inventories and conditions evolved. Goods commonly covered included staples such as bread and flour, sugar, fats, meat, coffee, and canned foods; some periods also restricted items like milk, eggs, or tea. The exact arrangements—which items were restricted, how much could be bought, and how often—were adjusted by authorities in response to shortages.

The administration was conducted by local authorities under national guidelines, with penalties for misuse and efforts to curb black markets. The system influenced daily life, prompting people to adapt through methods such as home gardening, recipe changes, and sharing resources within communities.

Rationing with ruokakortit ended gradually as supplies stabilized in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Today, the term is primarily historical, reflecting a period when the Finnish economy and society organized distribution of scarce food through coupons.