Part 3/6:
By 1943, in the midst of World War II, the U.S. government instituted a ban on the sale of sliced bread as part of broader rationing measures. This decision was driven by the need to conserve resources like steel and wax paper, both essential for military efforts. Slicing machines required steel, and wax paper was used to wrap the loaves. The government believed that the ban would assist in ensuring that necessary materials were available exclusively for the war effort.