Ironically, perhaps, on Truth Central last Friday ( http://defenceintranet.diiweb.r.mil....sToTheTest.htm for thosewith)
Troops put their taste buds to the test.
09/05/2008
Soldiers from the Welsh Guards have taken the opportunity to be food critics for the day after they were challenged to sample a selection of meals which may eventually make it onto the menu for troops, both in the UK and on operations around the world. Based at Wellington Barracks the Guardsmen took part in a Food Selection Panel (FSP), which is a process used by the MOD’s Defence Food Services team to choose items for the core range list. The list is a catalogue for caterers on ships, submarines and at all operational bases.
The tasting panels are carried out monthly and alternate between the services giving all soldiers, sailors and air personnel the opportunity to have a direct influence on the food that is served at their units. This latest test included a selection of hams, chocolate cakes and pasta salads
Lieutenant Colonel Simon Blake from the Operations and Food Supply Management team at Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) said:
"Food is vitally important to the morale of our Armed Forces, especially whilst deployed on operations. The food served to our soldiers, sailors and airmen is well-balanced, nutritious and plentiful and, unless they are away from the main camp, the majority of our troops eat freshly prepared hot and cold meals, cooked by professional skilled Service chefs, using a wide range of commercial rations including fresh fruit and vegetables.
"We use the Food Selection Panels to ensure that our armed forces have an opportunity to give their opinions in a relaxed and open environment."
Squadron Leader Dave Tanner from the Defence Food Services Integrated Project Team at DE&S is responsible for co-ordinating the tasting panels:
"The Food Selection Panel process is a tried and tested method that we have used in selecting our products for many years," he said. "Once the tasters have completed their organoleptic profiles, the product scores are then reviewed by the committee and assessed against several criteria, namely: nutritional content, exportability, shelf life, packaging, security of supply chain, surge capacity of suppliers, sustainability and Value for Money. This ensures that the troops get the best quality at the optimum price."
The Defence Food Services IPT works extremely closely with Purple Foodservice Solutions which is the prime contractor for its worldwide food supply. Purple's Managing Director Paul Dickinson said:
"We are responsible for getting 1,500 different fresh, chilled, ambient and frozen food products to 1,200 different military locations that are as far flung as the South Atlantic, Germany, Bosnia, Afghanistan and Iraq. The Food Selection Panels help us greatly in making sure that the products we buy are actually the ones service men and women want to see on their plates.
"Equally important is having the confidence that the committee of food experts have passed these products as nutritious and healthy. We are very grateful for the help we get from the many people of all three services who take part in these tasting panels."