Market Analysis and Meal Ready-to-Eat Main Course Development in the Context of Military Use

A one-day ration can be supplied to a soldier in the form of one ration pack for 24 hours or three packs of meal ready-to-eat, which equals one 24-hour ration. Based on the physical activity level and consequently energy requirements, there are two categories of military operations: a) normal operations, comparable to urban police work or firefighting, and b) combat operations which represent missions involving light-infantry. The aim of this study was: a) to analyse the EU market on the subject of a main course (MC) product in flexible packaging (n = 184), in the context of military use, and b) to develop thermostabilised MC aligning with modern health and nutrition recommendations for military use, i.e. protein, carbohydrate, fat, total energy intake, and essential amino acid composition. The greatest amount of ready-to-eat meals with shelf-life over one year are produced in the United Kingdom (n = 48) and most of the MC meals are preserved using freeze-drying (n = 135). While 90% of analysed products meet fat criteria for a physically active consumer (i.e. soldier), 39% meet carbohydrate criteria, 21% meet energy intake criteria, only 1% of the products are able to fulfill protein requirements. In this study, nine MC meals with shelf-life of three years were developed, which provide the necessary protein amount for a highly physically active consumer and cover its daily essential amino acid requirements.