Indian Army, Food and Rations

[Suryavanshi]

Hello everyone,

Welcome to this thread dedicated to discussing the rations and Meals Ready-to-Eat (MREs) provided to the Indian Army. This is a topic of great interest as it not only reflects the logistical capabilities of our armed forces but also gives us insight into the daily lives of the soldiers who serve our nation.

In this thread, we will cover various aspects of Indian Army rations and MREs, including:

1. Types of Rations: An overview of the different types of rations provided to soldiers during training, deployment, and in combat zones.
2. Nutritional Content: The nutritional value and composition of these rations to ensure soldiers maintain their strength and stamina.
3. Preparation and Storage: How these meals are prepared, packaged, and stored, considering the diverse and often harsh environments where the Indian Army operates.
4. Comparisons with Other Militaries: A look at how Indian Army rations and MREs compare with those of other countries.
5. Personal Experiences: Anecdotes and experiences from former and current soldiers about their favorite rations and how these meals have evolved over time.
6. Innovations and Challenges: Recent innovations in military food technology and the challenges faced in ensuring consistent and high-quality rations.

We encourage all members to share their knowledge, experiences, and questions on this topic. Whether you have served in the armed forces or are simply interested in military logistics, your contributions are valuable.

Let's delve into the fascinating world of Indian Army rations and MREs!

 

[Suryavanshi]

A look at the contents of a typical Indian Military MRE



MRE Chapatis



MRE Packaging



Various kinds of energy bars.

The development of pack rations to service forces is very critical. Because, protecting food items from physical and chemical deterioration in storage, transport and handling, the packaging and packing of any operational ration used during logistic period, should meet three considerations of (i) operational limitations on meals patterns, (ii) operational limitations on weight and volume and (iii) availability of materials. With the due consideration to the above fact, Defense Food Research Laboratory (DFRL), Mysore has developed Meals–Ready–to-Eat (MRE) Ration technology comprises Retort pouch processed foods, Shelf stable no preservative chapatis/ Preserved & flavored chapatis and Survival ration to meet the operational needs for the Army and Navy. The retort pouch processed foods and Shelf stable no preservative chapatis do not require any cooking since the contents are thermally processed and can be consumed readily after little warming if required. Retort pouch processed Ready to Eat (RTE) foods are processed in a specially designed bulk sterilizer. Each batch is carefully monitored for F0 at 1210.1 C to ensure microbiological as well as chemical quality. The food products are processed in a special retort to internationally accepted food standards. The technology used is highly scientific accepted at international level. The packaging material consists of multilayer structure of 12 micron Polyester / 9micron Aluminum foil / 70 micron Nylon/70 micron cast Polypropylene designed and manufactured to withstand high temperatures and internal pressure during heating, cooling, storage and transport.

Survival ration contains energy dense soft bar and delicious chikkis from ground nut with Jaggery/sugar to meet immediate nutritional requirements of Armed Forces during operation. The survival ration consists of Soft bar 100 g x 2 Nos, Chikki (sugar based) 50 g x3 Nos, Chikki (Jaggery based) 50 g x 3 Nos. Rations are packed in Low Density Polyethylene(LDPE) of 125 micron thickness and hermetically sealed and vacuum packed. Chikkis are vacuum packed in laminated pouches to enhance the shelf life to more than one year without any sensory changes at ambient conditions

The Indian MRE compares very well with well-known international rations like MREof USA and GP-24 of UK in nutritional quality and hygienic standards. The shelf life of theration is 12 months under ambient condition. The total calorific value of the ration is 3300 KCal. and meets the immediate nutritional requirements during operation.

 

[125mm_Smoothbore]

Labs​

• Defence Food Research Laboratory (DFRL)

MRE & Rations​

• Vegetable pulav
• Plain Rice
• Vegetable noodle

Curry​

• Potato peas curry
• Rajam curry
• Dal fry
• Paneer peas curry
• Egg curry
• Chicken curry
• Chicken pulav
• Other Ready to eat (RTE) products

Chapthies​

• No preservative chapaties
• Preserved and flavouredchapathies
• Short term preserved chapathies
• Stuffed parothas
• Flavoured Chapattis
• Puff & serve chapathies

Energy Foods​

• Appetizers
• Chicken biscuits
• Flax cookies
• Flax munch
• Coco cocoa delight bar
• Composite tasty bar
• Ergogenic bar
• Flax oat tasty bar
• High energy bar
• Omega-3-rich bar
• Protein rich mutton bar
• Nutri food bar
• Sweet & sour tasty bar

Instant & Mix Foods​

• Ready to reconstitute / ready to cook products
• Instant coconut chutney mix
• Instant cooking pulses and dal flakes
• Instant cooking rice
• Instant dal curries
• Instant idly sambar mix
• Instant sojihalwa mix
• Instant upma mix
• Instant whole pulse and their curries
• Variety of freeze dried fruit juice powders
• Sea buckthorn based herbal tea
• Sea buckthorn based spiced squash
• Flax chapathi mix
• Flax sweet mix
• Millet kheer mix
• Millet chapathi mix
• Millet roti mix
• Millet dosa mix
• Millet pakoda mix
• Millet halwa mix
• Millet dokla mix
• Ragi cookie mix

Beverages​

• Appetizer mix
• Millet beverage mix
• Ready to drink juices and Beverages
• Tender coconut water
• Aloe passion drink
• Brahmi drink
• Ash gourd juices
• Alovera juice
• Vegetable juices
• Sea buckthorn based spiced squash
• Sea buckthorn based herbal tea
• Variety of freeze dried fruit juice powders

Other Food Products​

• Ethylene absorbing formulation
• Minimally processed vegetables
• Preservative coating for fruits & vegetables
• Hurdle technology based preserved fruits & vegetables

SOURCE : https://www.drdo.gov.in/drdo/survival-ration

 

[Suryavanshi]

Nutritional Study on Soldiers at High Altitudes(2008)​

Energy Intake and Expenditure​

The study examines the energy intake and expenditure of soldiers in different units stationed at high altitudes. The key findings are as follows:

• Infantry Unit:
  • Energy Intake: 4351 ± 280 kcal/day
  • Energy Expenditure: 3964 ± 342 kcal/day
• Mechanical Unit:
  • Energy Intake: 4175 ± 390 kcal/day
  • Energy Expenditure: 3588 ± 290 kcal/day
• Field Workshop Unit:
  • Energy Intake: 4370 ± 245 kcal/day
  • Energy Expenditure: 3803 ± 496 kcal/day
• Engineers (13 Punjab, 2 Kumaon, 9 Sikh Units):
  • Energy Intake: 4160 ± 350 kcal/day (Punjab), 3990 ± 520 kcal/day (Kumaon), 3730 ± 215 kcal/day (Sikh)
  • Energy Expenditure: 4011 ± 285 kcal/day (Punjab), 4099 ± 435 kcal/day (Kumaon), 3825 ± 474 kcal/day (Sikh)

These results indicate that, on average, soldiers' energy intake meets or exceeds their energy expenditure, suggesting that their dietary needs are generally met in terms of caloric intake.

Opinion on Ration Scale​

Soldiers' opinions on the existing ration scale were also surveyed, focusing on the quantity, quality, taste, and hygienic conditions of the food provided:

• At Plains:
  • Quantity: 33% satisfied, 62% dissatisfied, 5% neutral
  • Quality: 29% satisfied, 69% dissatisfied, 2% neutral
  • Taste: 16% satisfied, 79% dissatisfied, 5% neutral
  • Hygienic Condition: 57% satisfied, 39% dissatisfied, 4% neutral
• At High Altitudes:
  • Quantity: 38% satisfied, 60% dissatisfied, 2% neutral
  • Quality: 41% satisfied, 55% dissatisfied, 4% neutral
  • Taste: 38% satisfied, 57% dissatisfied, 5% neutral
  • Hygienic Condition: 65% satisfied, 33% dissatisfied, 2% neutral

The results suggest that while there is a general satisfaction with hygienic conditions, there are significant levels of dissatisfaction regarding the quantity, quality, and taste of the rations provided.

Recommendations​

The study concludes with several recommendations to improve the nutritional intake and morale of soldiers, especially those stationed at high altitudes:

1. Ensure a consistent supply of good quality fresh vegetables, fruits, and meat.
2. Consider replacing hydrogenated oils with refined edible oils to avoid the deleterious effects of long-term consumption of trans-fatty acids.
3. Increase the variety of food items in the ration to combat the monotony of the current diet and improve soldiers' satisfaction and morale.

These findings underscore the importance of maintaining adequate nutrition for soldiers to support their physical performance and overall well-being, particularly in challenging environments like high altitudes.



Source: https://publications.drdo.gov.in/ojs/index.php/dsj/article/download/1701/794#:~:text=Soldiers in plains, on an,423 kcal/person/day.

 

[125mm_Smoothbore]

 

[Suryavanshi]

Test Kits​

• Meat Test kit
• Milk adulteration kit
• Frozen/Chilled Chicken/Meat Quality Evaluation Field kit
• Test kit for E. coli detection
• Pesticide detection kit
• Presumptive test kit for coliform detection
• Acidity testing paper strips
• Test kits for food borne pathogens / toxin

 

[125mm_Smoothbore]

Labs​

• Defence Food Research Laboratory (DFRL)

MRE & Rations​

• Vegetable pulav
• Plain Rice
• Vegetable noodle

Curry​

• Potato peas curry
• Rajam curry
• Dal fry
• Paneer peas curry
• Egg curry
• Chicken curry
• Chicken pulav
• Other Ready to eat (RTE) products

Chapthies​

• No preservative chapaties
• Preserved and flavouredchapathies
• Short term preserved chapathies
• Stuffed parothas
• Flavoured Chapattis
• Puff & serve chapathies

Energy Foods​

• Appetizers
• Chicken biscuits
• Flax cookies
• Flax munch
• Coco cocoa delight bar
• Composite tasty bar
• Ergogenic bar
• Flax oat tasty bar
• High energy bar
• Omega-3-rich bar
• Protein rich mutton bar
• Nutri food bar
• Sweet & sour tasty bar

Instant & Mix Foods​

• Ready to reconstitute / ready to cook products
• Instant coconut chutney mix
• Instant cooking pulses and dal flakes
• Instant cooking rice
• Instant dal curries
• Instant idly sambar mix
• Instant sojihalwa mix
• Instant upma mix
• Instant whole pulse and their curries
• Variety of freeze dried fruit juice powders
• Sea buckthorn based herbal tea
• Sea buckthorn based spiced squash
• Flax chapathi mix
• Flax sweet mix
• Millet kheer mix
• Millet chapathi mix
• Millet roti mix
• Millet dosa mix
• Millet pakoda mix
• Millet halwa mix
• Millet dokla mix
• Ragi cookie mix

Beverages​

• Appetizer mix
• Millet beverage mix
• Ready to drink juices and Beverages
• Tender coconut water
• Aloe passion drink
• Brahmi drink
• Ash gourd juices
• Alovera juice
• Vegetable juices
• Sea buckthorn based spiced squash
• Sea buckthorn based herbal tea
• Variety of freeze dried fruit juice powders

Other Food Products​

• Ethylene absorbing formulation
• Minimally processed vegetables
• Preservative coating for fruits & vegetables
• Hurdle technology based preserved fruits & vegetables

SOURCE : https://www.drdo.gov.in/drdo/survival-ration

 

[125mm_Smoothbore]

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CONTINUED....

 

[125mm_Smoothbore]