The Gloria brand of evaporated milk was launched by the American Carnation Company in Normandy, France in 1929; Carnation had been successfully marketing this canned milk since 1899, initially as an infant food and later as a culinary aid. Gloria was distinguished by the fact that it was both full fat and unsweetened. This early poster promotes the culinary uses of the product but many other designs and magazine advertisements highlight its nutritional value and special suitability for babies. Evaporated milk of all kinds was especially popular until the widespread availability of home refrigeration in the United States and Western Europe during the 1950s; it promoted a safe and sanitary alternative to fresh milk that was not always available. For this reason, it also appeared in soldiers’ ration kits during wartime.