THE FOLKLORE OF PLANTS: Carrot

Lisa Karen Miller

          World War II spawned a plethora of rumor and conjecture, which spread like hot butter among the anxious inhabitants of Great Britain.  Some misconceptions, however, were intentional and meant to fool the Germans. One such story planted by the Ministry of Information concerned the humble carrot.

          Long known to contain lots of vitamin A (in the form of beta carotene), carrots were indeed good for the eyes.  They hadn’t been proven to sharpen night vision specifically, but the British had a secret to keep. They had a new type of radar that could detect incoming German fighter planes at night – the preferred time to strike during the Blitz – and they didn’t want to enemy to know about it.

          To keep this technology under wraps for as long as possible, they spread the story that Royal Air Force pilots were eating loads of carrots, enabling them to see better at night and shoot down more enemy planes. 

          To help perpetuate the story, government officials also told the British populace that eating carrots would enable them to see better during blackouts, the enforced periods of darkness when attacks were expected.  Allowing even a chink of light to show through a curtain would alert the enemy to a human dwelling.

          This didn’t go over so well with children, as wartime carrots weren’t as sweet as the varieties we enjoy today.  They balked at eating the somewhat bitter roots.  Carrots, other vegetables, and bread were never rationed in Britain; people also grew victory gardens to help the war effort, so they were never in short supply.

          Government home economists got to work cranking out new recipes.  Carrolade, a marmalade substitute, wasn’t a big hit, but what do you think was?

          That’s right – carrot cake. 

Susan Dey, who played Lori in the 1970s hit television show The Partridge Family, constantly munched carrot sticks in her eternal struggle against the nemesis of every actress – fat.  She stopped when her skin took on an orangey tinge. An excess of carrots can actually have this effect.

          The carrot stands second only to the potato in veggie popularity. Coming in an array of colors, they are loaded with antioxidants and a wide variety of nutrients.

          In spite of what Bugs Bunny has led us to believe, carrots are not good for rabbits, and may pose a health hazard. They are still good for human eyes, though.

No one knows for sure if the Reich fell for the night vision ruse, but rumor has it Hitler ordered acres and acres of carrots to be planted.

© Copyright 2023 Lisa Karen Miller