What Do the World's Armies Eat?

The Eat Of Battle – How The World's Armies Get Fed -- The Guardian

An army marches on its stomach but what do different countries feed their troops? Who gets smoked sprats or tinned cheddar – and who wants 'three-year pizza'?

The Taliban might be just a few hundred metres away, but in the mess halls of the US bases in southern Afghanistan, there are more pressing dangers lurking: undercooked eggs. Signs placed above the breakfast fry-up station warn against asking for an egg sunny side up: it's available over-easy only. The reason, as explained by patient cooks to bemused visitors, is that diseases might lurk in a runny yolk. Feeding soldiers in a warzone is one of the biggest challenges for any army. Generals want to keep their soldiers healthy, and food done well, both in the "d-facs" (dining faciliites) and MREs ("meals ready to eat", in US army speak – or "ration packs") can be a morale booster, a reminder of home in a hostile, alien place.

So for soldiers on the ground, one of the most important recent breakthroughs in military technology may be the "three-year pizza", described by its scientist creators as the "holy grail" of ration-pack food.

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Update: Tabasco for the British, 40% proof shot of cordiale for the Italians: Can you guess the army's nationality by its ration pack? -- Daily Mail

My Comment: The Chinese rations look the most "boring" .... and they are written in Chinese and (surprise surprise) ENGLISH!