Product Details

• Systematic synthesis of U.S. military's food product development, processing, packaging, testing, and distribution methods
• Provides technical data for lightweighting, nutrient optimization, shelf-life extension, ready-to-eat, and self-heating foods

Written by a team from the U.S. Army's Combat Feeding Directorate at the Natick Research, Development and Engineering Center, this technical volumerepresents a comprehensive guide to how the military designs, processes, customizes, packages and distributes highly palatable, long shelf-life food products for field personnel. The book offers new data on numerous technologies used to solve problems such as nutrient densification, lightweighting, novel thermal processing, and long-term quality preservation in delivering appetizing foods. Testing techniques are explained for evaluating sensory qualities of foods and their effects on physical and cognitive performance.

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Foreword: Feeding the Warfighter

by Gerald A. Darsch, Director, DoD Combat Feeding

 

Acknowledgements

 

SECTION I: INTRODUCTION TO MILITARY FEEDING

 

1. An Overview of U.S. Military Field Feeding and Combat Rations

Joseph A. Zanchi

• Background/Historical
• Field/Operational Constraints
• Feeding Systems and Standards
• Ration Categories
• Future Directions
• References

 

SECTION II: PRIMARY PROCESSING TECHNOLOGIES

 

2. Thermal Processing of Rations

Tom C. S. Yang

• Retorting and Food Sterility
• Evolution of Types of Thermally Processed Ration Components
• Activities Related to FDA Approval
• Challenges to Processing MRE Rations in Flexible Pouches
• Further Improvement of Microwave Energy Distribution in Contained Foods
• Summary and Future Directions of Advanced Thermal Processing Technologies
• References

 

3. Emerging Technologies: Non-Thermal Processing for Quality Improvement

Melvin Carter, Nicole Favreau, Lauren Oleksyk and C. Patrick Dunne

• Introduction
• Overview of Non-thermal Processing
• Criteria for Non-thermal Applications
• Military and Industrial Adoption
• Future Aspects and Directions
• Summary
• References

 

4. Caloric Densification of Rations

Ann Barrett and Jack Briggs

• Necessity of Caloric Density
• Caloric Densification Technologies
• Calorically Dense Rations in Current Use and Under Development
• Future Directions in Caloric Densification and Satiety
• References

 

5. Special-Purpose Rations: Tube Foods

Daniel Nattress

• Tube Food History
• Processing
• Future Direction
• Reference

 

6. Special-Purpose Rations: Irradiated Foods

Vicki A. Loveridge

• Historical Background
• Parameters for Processing
• Enzyme Inactivation0
• Moisture Retention
• Subfreezing Temperatures
• Dose
• Source Type
• NASA Products
• References

 

SECTION III. STABILIZATION AND ENHANCEMENT OF RATIONS

 

7. Military Food Safety Technologies

Andre Senecal and Patrick Marek

• Introduction
• Veterinary Services Activity Food Safety and Defense Mission
• Food Safety Challenges in Military Environments
• Research and Development for Food Safety, Risk Analysis and Surveillance
• Commercial Off-the-Shelf Technologies and Validation
• Future Research
• References

 

8. Military Food Packaging Technologies

Danielle Froio, Jo Ann Ratto and Jeanne Lucciarini

• Purpose and Importance of Military Packaging
• Military Packaging
• High Barrier, Non-foil Packaging Technologies
• References

 

9. Intermediate Moisture Technologies for Rations

Michelle J. Richardson

• Principles of Intermediate-Moisture Food Technology
• Development of Intermediate Moisture Foods for Military Field Feeding
• Future Application of Intermediate-moisture Foods in the Military
• References

 

SECTION IV. NUTRITIONAL OPTIMIZATION OF RATIONS

 

10. Menu Design and Nutritional Quality

Judith Aylward and M. Susan Harrington

• Menu Design and Ensuring Nutritional Quality
• References

 

11. Performance-Optimizing Ration Components

Kenneth Racicot, Danielle J. Anderson and Betty A. Davis

• Introduction
• Incorporation of Bioactives into Ration Components
• Micronutrients
• Macronutrients
• Special Considerations
• Gut Health
• Omega-3 Fatty Acids
• Conclusions
• References

 

SECTION V. DELIVERY AND DISTRIBUTION OF RATIONS

 

12. Packaging, Delivery, and Distribution

Stephen M. Moody

• Logistics Overview—Unique Considerations of the End-to-End Military Supply Chain
• Unitized Loads—How the Distribution System Affects Unit Load Requirements
• Asset Visibility—The Use of Active and Passive RFID for Asset Visibility
• Time Temperature Indicators—Shelf Life Calculation for Supply Chain Management
• Surveillance Inspection—Total Life-Cycle Quality Assurance of Operational Rations
• Future Directions
• Summary
• References

 

13. Military Field Kitchen Technology

Donald Pickard

• Organization
• Field Kitchen Constraints
• Group Ration Systems
• Army Field Feeding Equipment
• Advanced Technology Development for Army Field Feeding Equipment and Systems
• Battlefield Kitchen
• Solar Powered Refrigerated Container Technology
• Waste Remediation and Waste to Energy

 

SECTION VI. WARFIGHTER ASSESSMENT AND ACCEPTANCE OF RATIONS

 

14. Consumer and Sensory Testing of Rations

Armand V. Cardello, Howard G. Schutz and Alan O. Wright

• History of Food Acceptance and Sensory Research on Military Rations
• Food Acceptance Research for the Military
• Beyond Liking: Other Quantitative Methods Used at NSRDEC
• Behaviorally-Oriented Methods
• Qualitative Test Methods
• Factors Influencing Acceptance and Perceptions of Rations
• Future Trends in Consumer and Sensory Research on Military Rations
• References

 

15. Field Testing of Rations

Wendy K. Johnson and Adam J. Dichiara

• Introduction
• Research Design and Methodology
• Data Analysis
• Other Field Research Topics
• Future Directions for Ration Field Evaluations
• References
• Bibliography of Past Ration Field Evaluations

 

16. Cognitive and Physical Performance Testing of Rations

Caroline R. Mahoney and Harris R. Lieberman

• Introduction
• Background
• Basic Design Issues
• Experimental Control
• Replication
• Selection of Tests and Measures
• Conclusion and Anticipated Future Directions
• Acknowledgements
• References

 

SECTION VII. THE FUTURE OF MILITARY FEEDING

 

17. Future Directions in Military Feeding

Craig Rettie

• Introduction
• Identifying the Future Needs of the Services
• Looking Forward
• Conclusion

 

Index