Probl Hig Epidemiol 2011, 92(3): 512-514pl

Survival food ration

Jerzy Bertrandt, Anna Kłos, Roman Łakomy

Wojskowy Instytut Higieny i Epidemiologii, Warszawa

Summary
Introduction. Soldier activity in combat conditions is always burdened with the risk of being cut off from the unit as well as the lack or a limited access to logistics supply, when a soldier is left to his own resources and must survive, for a short time, in extremely difficult conditions. What allows survival in such extreme conditions is a limited "survival" ration.
Aim. Preparation of tactical and technical principles and production of a prototype of the Polish "survival" food ration with a purpose of feeding soldiers in a situation of food shortage.
Material and methods. In order to prepare the tactical and technical principles of "survival" food ration an analysis of long-standing research on energy expenditure of soldiers doing military service in different types of military units was done as the basis for energy value reduction in a food ration. The results obtained, together with the principles established within the NATO forces to limit energy and nutritive value of "survival" rations, were the basis for establishing the level of reduction of energy and nutritive value of the Polish "survival" food ration by 1/3.
Results. The energy value of the "survival" food ration was assumed as approx. 1500 kcal, keeping in mind all appropriate proportions of macronutrients i.e. protein and fat delivering 10-15% and 25-30% of energy, as well as carbohydrates in the amount of <=250 g. Total weight of the ration should amount to no more that 500 g, and its shelf life should be a minimum of 36 months in the temperature of 21°C. A "survival" food ration should have a shape of a bar consisting of 10 equal pieces, with cuts allowing easy breaking, and nutritive value of 150 kcal each. Based on established tactical and technical principles a prototype of a "survival" food ration was prepared. Its weight was 400 g and nutritive value was 1548 kcal, with 12.9% of energy from protein, 27.5% from fat and 230.4 g from carbohydrates.

Key words:  military service, restricted food ration, feeding of soldiers