Ship's biscuit, England, 1875

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Ship's biscuit, England, 1875. Ship’s Biscuit was sometimes known as ‘hard tack’ because of its jaw-breaking toughness. It was a staple diet of sailors for centuries. It was baked en masse before long voyages and stored until use. Ship’s Biscuit was made of flour, water and salt, but was often bulked out with other edible or inedible substances such as sawdust. It was one of the few foods that would not perish during a long sea voyage. However, many were bored into by weevils or nibbled by rats by the time the sailors ate them. Their limited nutritional value and lack of vitamin C meant the crew could develop scurvy if they relied on it. Contributors: Science Museum, London. Work ID: ehd8pkaw.

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