Convenience food is on the rise in all areas of life, and nowhere more so than the US army.
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The military wanted to offer soldiers food they could eat on the move – yet wouldn’t perish when exposed to airdrops, rough handling and extreme climates. And so the indestructible sandwich came to be….
The US Army Soldier Systems Center in Natick, Massachusetts has developed a sandwich designed to stay fresh for up to three years at 26°C, the temperature of a balmy summer afternoon, or six months at the higher temperature of 38°C.
The US military has for some time been researching alternative food products, to complement its traditional MRE rations (Meal, Ready to Eat) with food that can be eaten on the hoof, and the new sandwiches fit the bill.
As Michelle Richards, project officer at the US Army Soldier Systems Center, explained: “The water activity of the different sandwich components needs to complement each other. If the water activity of the meat is too high you might get soggy bread.”
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By GlobalDataAs the Scotsman newspaper relates, the researchers have handled this problem by using fillings such as pepperoni and chicken, to which they added substances called humectants, which stop water leaking out.
Humectants serve a secondary, vital role in limiting the amount of moisture available to promote bacterial growth. The sandwiches’ packaging performs a similar role, as they come sealed in laminated plastic pouches that contain sachets of oxygen-scavenging chemicals.
The next step in the project is to extend the range to pocket pizzas, cream-filled bagels, breakfast burritos and peanut butter sandwiches.
