Ghost of a flea: Army rations

July 23, 2004

Army rations

I have a second cousin (once removed? I can never get that straight) who still talks about WWI British North African army rations on the menu for his service in WWII. They still sound appetizing in comparison with the latest in army ration technology (via The Eternal Golden Braid).

Would you eat food cooked in your own urine? Food scientists working for the US military have developed a dried food ration that troops can hydrate by adding the filthiest of muddy swamp water or even peeing on it.

The ration comes in a pouch containing a filter that removes 99.9 per cent of bacteria and most toxic chemicals from the water used to rehydrate it, according to the Combat Feeding Directorate, part of the US Army Soldier Systems Center in Natick, Massachusetts. This is the same organisation that created the "indestructible sandwich" that will stay fresh for three years

Posted by Ghost of a flea at July 23, 2004 08:30 AM

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Comments

Wanna know something scarier? This kind of thing (ummm...recycling of essential liquids) will be common on long-haul space flights.

Posted by: Demetrius at July 23, 2004 09:44 AM

It isn't the recycling itself that bothers me so much as the image of peeing through a filter onto my dehydrated steak and egg dinner and then eating it. Bon appetit!

Posted by: Flea at July 23, 2004 10:14 AM

Sounds perfectly normal to me.

Posted by: R Kelly at July 23, 2004 01:44 PM

Coming soon: a grocery section in your friendly neighbourhood army surplus store.

Posted by: alan at July 23, 2004 02:29 PM