At the entrance to the memorial park in Kyiv, there is a sculpture

[Hugin]

4. I remember hearing a story long ago...

That word of a "food substitute" being used by the peasantry to reduce the pangs of starvation reached Stalin. So he dispatched an investigator to see if this was true and figure out a way to thwart it, because, anything which reduced the suffering would extend the time before the desired compliance with collectivism Stalin was seeking.

The investigator found that the victims were grinding up bark, wood, dirt, cloth, and other non-nutritive items and eating the resulting pulp to reduce the agony many of them were experiencing.

Stalin ordered the investigator to take measures to keep them from using these "food substitutes".

Charming fellow, Stalin.

No wonder his wife committed suicide. (Allegedly over the Stalin made famine in Ukraine or over his indiscretions. take your pick)