The Science of Survival

Based on a case study of the scientist Max Rubner (1854–1932), this article analyses the interactions between the production of scientific knowledge and public policies in a wartime context. It examines Rubner’s little-known influence on the selection of authorized flour substitutes and on the development of legal regulations. The article first explores the impact of his statements and actions at the beginning of the war, before addressing the limitations he faced in the context of a bread policy aimed at “filling stomachs” at all costs. Finally, it examines the alternative strategies mobilized by Rubner to shape nutritional standards and food choices related to bread and flour, notably through media engagement and the dissemination of his scientific research on flour substitutes.