DEVELOPMENT OF INSTANT FOODS AND EMERGENCY-SURVIVAL RATIONS FOR SERVICE USE.

Abstract

A variety of instant and ready-to-eat foods and emergency/survival rations were developed for use by the Services meeting logistic requirements. Items developed include quick-cooking dehydrated pulses and vegetables, curry mixes like the Avial mix and omelet mix, instant fruit flavored milk and lassi beverage powders, soup cubes, fruit bars and intermediate moisture fruits and vegetables which could be used as such or as components of pack rations. Various types of compressed ready-to-eat bars were developed for use as combat rations by the Army and a soft, flavored fudge bar as survival ration for the Navy. The various products remained acceptable for 6-12 months under ambient conditions when packed in flexible laminate pouches and were found acceptable in large scale user trials by the Services and several mountaineering and Antarctica expeditions. A Navy survival ration having a shelf life of more than 3 years when packed in paper-foil-polythene pouches is described.