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18/08/2004
New rations trial set to curry favour with the British soldier
The British soldier of the future is more likely to be tucking into chicken balti with rice on the battlefield rather than basic stews and casseroles if a makeover of the armed forces ration packs gets the thumbs up.
More than 10,000 soldiers, sailors and airmen and women across the UK and Germany are set to try out the next generation of Operational Ration Pack (ORPs) menus, it has been announced today.
While ration packs are popular with UK forces - and other nations' forces - they were starting to reflect yesterday's tastes, rather than the contemporary food young men and women consume today, the MoD said.
A 24-hour operational ration pack (ORP) includes main meals in retort pouches together with a range of snacks, soups, sweets and drinks, providing soldiers with a balanced healthy diet. More than 20 different types of ration packs are currently available to soldiers involved in military operations, ranging from Halal to vegetarian meals.
Up to 60,000 trial rations, along with 20,000 surveys, have been issued to soldiers currently on exercise in the UK and Germany. Data from these surveys and trials will be used to shape the ration pack of the future.
In the last four months, Armed Forces food specialists, together with experts from two Europe's leading research organisations, have been designing new menus, that are designed to taste better - yet be healthier.
Brigadier Jeff Little, Director of the Defence Catering Group, said: "We already feed our soldiers, sailors and air personnel very well, balancing a variety of requirements such as fats, carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins and sugars in ration packs.
"But we also want ration packs - which are the bread and butter of food provision to the UK's Armed Forces when deployed in the field - to provide greater variety, flavour and taste. Food is not just fuel for the body, but a key element in keeping morale high."
The MoD is also considering introducing other new components such as isotonic, high energy drinks and snacks to provide additional energy and help troops to re-hydrate in hot climates.
The aim is a twenty-first century ration pack tuned to the needs of the twenty-first century soldier and the wide variety of operational environments in which he or she may be deployed, a ministry spokesperson said.
(gmcg)
More than 10,000 soldiers, sailors and airmen and women across the UK and Germany are set to try out the next generation of Operational Ration Pack (ORPs) menus, it has been announced today.
While ration packs are popular with UK forces - and other nations' forces - they were starting to reflect yesterday's tastes, rather than the contemporary food young men and women consume today, the MoD said.
A 24-hour operational ration pack (ORP) includes main meals in retort pouches together with a range of snacks, soups, sweets and drinks, providing soldiers with a balanced healthy diet. More than 20 different types of ration packs are currently available to soldiers involved in military operations, ranging from Halal to vegetarian meals.
Up to 60,000 trial rations, along with 20,000 surveys, have been issued to soldiers currently on exercise in the UK and Germany. Data from these surveys and trials will be used to shape the ration pack of the future.
In the last four months, Armed Forces food specialists, together with experts from two Europe's leading research organisations, have been designing new menus, that are designed to taste better - yet be healthier.
Brigadier Jeff Little, Director of the Defence Catering Group, said: "We already feed our soldiers, sailors and air personnel very well, balancing a variety of requirements such as fats, carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins and sugars in ration packs.
"But we also want ration packs - which are the bread and butter of food provision to the UK's Armed Forces when deployed in the field - to provide greater variety, flavour and taste. Food is not just fuel for the body, but a key element in keeping morale high."
The MoD is also considering introducing other new components such as isotonic, high energy drinks and snacks to provide additional energy and help troops to re-hydrate in hot climates.
The aim is a twenty-first century ration pack tuned to the needs of the twenty-first century soldier and the wide variety of operational environments in which he or she may be deployed, a ministry spokesperson said.
(gmcg)
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