Special Assignment

8th November 1998

Yuk, it's ration

Meal packs distributed to soldiers on the move are substandard and unpalatable

It was the great Napoleon who said that an Army marches on its stomach. Field Marshal Montgomery not only wore the headgear of the ordinary soldier, but also ate the food of his soldier. In Sri Lanka, while billions of rupees are spent on the war and procurements for the army, and the General celebrates victories with Champagne, could it be that soldiers are getting outdated foodstuffs?

The Sunday Times has in its possession, a ration pack issued to soldiers in an operation area. The pack was handed to us in early August by a soldier who claimed that this batch of rations had been issued to them during the third week of July.

Among the contents of the ration pack were the following:

One packet Maliban Cream Crackers bearing expiry date 12.06.98

One packet Maliban Cream Crackers bearing expiry date 08.07.98

Two sachets of Glucolin bearing on sachet, 49020/01-97

Two packets Prima Instant Noodles bearing expiry date 03.07.98

There were also sealed packs of vegetable curry and chicken curry which were not due to expire until 1999, but nevertheless, the soldiers complained that some of them when opened, were not palatable. There were several other foil sachets which were unlabelled and undated, small portions of sugar, dates, Jeevanee oral rehydration salts, tea bags, and a small tin of cheese.

The soldiers who were issued these ration packs commented that only the tin of cheese was good.

The Commanding Officer of the Unit confirmed that they have often received foodstuffs which were outdated or unpalatable in the ration packs issued to soldiers on operation.

For instance, the dates, wrapped in a thin polythene, have no expiry date but are often found to be unfit for human consumption. He also commented that the noodles are unsuitable for soldiers on an operation. The men are unable to light a fire to cook the noodles as the smoke would give them away. The soldiers simply crush the noodles and consume it mixed with the curry provided.

The CO said he has requested precooked rice for his men since they have to go out to the jungles on operations. After repeated complaints to the Supply Co. the officer said the last stock of ration packs contained fresh packs of food items with an expiry date up to 2000.

Another Unit Commander said that there were two categories of ration packs. Commandos and troops from the Special Forces are given a special ration pack, which is very expensive, depending on their assignment. Others in the north and east are issued the ordinary ration pack. He complained that the ration pack issued to soldiers is bulky and is a burden to them on operation. He felt they should be issued with a pack which is lighter and does not require much preparation time, as for example the Combat Rations or Meals Ready to Eat (MRE) as they are now known, issued to US soldiers.

The Army requires 500,000-800,000 ration packs each year, depending on the operations carried out.

Huge amounts of food items are purchased for ration packs as well as for the camps. Some of the officers seem to feel that contractors are palming off outdated or nearly outdated foodstuffs on the Army.

It will also be recalled that a few years ago, a number of complaints were made by soldiers at the frontlines, about substandard pre cooked field packs supplied to them. It was alleged that senior officers had received large commissions for purchasing these packs. The Commander at the time was subsequently charged for bribery and corruption.

On inquiring from the manufacturers of the expired food items, it was found that the biscuits, noodles and Glucose are supplied direct to the army on special order. These packs are not supplied to any other consumer.

The Marketing Manager of Maliban Biscuit Manufactories Ltd., Raja Abeynayake explained that the Sri Lanka Army places the order for these packets of Maliban Cream Cracker biscuits which are packed specially for them. This pack is not supplied to anyone else.

He said that the batch No.2079 which was stamped on the pack with the expiry date 08.07.98 was manufactured in late October 1997.

The date of manufacture of the second pack which had expired on 12.06.98, could not be traced since the batch number which we read as 879 was apparently incorrect as batch numbers should have four digits. Further, he said that the packs are not stored by them but delivered within a few days of manufacture.

As regards outdated products, Mr. Abeynayake said that their field force of over 100 sales representatives visit the outlets, such as supermarkets and grocery shops to which they deliver supplies, once a week and collects any outdated stocks which are then destroyed.

"We regard our reputation as a treasure," the Marketing Manager said. After the packs are delivered to the army however, they have no further control over these stocks.

Prima Instant Noodles are manufactured by Ceylon Agro Industries Ltd., which appears to be a subsidiary of Prima Ceylon Ltd. The Sales Manager, Bandula Yatawara, was reached with some difficulty since the telephone and fax number indicated on the packet, are not even in use.

The Sales Manager of Ceylon Agro Industries said the packets of noodles are packed specially for the army and supplied as soon as they are packed. They have a shelf life of about nine months.

As we have noted, the sachets of Glucolin or Glucose which supplies the sugar requirement of the soldier during operation bore the figures 49020/01-97. According to Graham Marshall, the Sales Manager of GlaxoWellcome Ceylon Ltd., the manufacturers of Glucolin, the figures and date 01-97 on the pack refers to the polythene sachet and not it's contents.

It seems strange however, that the individual packs should carry the date of manufacture of the sachet, which is immaterial, rather than the expiry date of the contents which is all important.

The sachets are ordered from an outside source especially for supplying Glucose to the army.

When asked why the expiry date is not indicated on the pack, Mr. Marshall said that the required details of manufacture and expiry date are marked on A4 size labels outside the cartons in which these sachets are packed. The Glucolin apparently has a shelf life of three years. This particular size of sachet is not supplied to any other consumer.

Since the soldiers expressed their dissatisfaction as regards the Glucose supplied to them, The Sunday Times had a specimen tested at a reputed research institute.

According to the results of the tests, the moisture contents of the specimen submitted was found to be 9.1 and the Water activity 0.73.

The test report states as follows:

"The moisture content of the specimen submitted is within the limits specified in Sri Lanka Standards for Glucose, SLS 617:1983.(ie 7-10%). However, the water activity (Aw) of 0.73 for this specimen is a fairly high figure for a dry product. According to available information, water activity between 0.6- 0.7 will support growth of xerophilic moulds and osmophilic yeasts. Further at the time of receipt the sample was observed to be lumpy and not free flowing."

In simple terms, this means that the moisture content of the sample is just below the maximum acceptable level of 10%. Once the pack is opened, there is a possibility of spoilage due to increased moisture content. Certain types of moulds and yeasts are able to grow with the increased moisture. According to the Division of Food Science & Technology Fact Sheet on Water Activity, which is the standard being used, food with a water activity below 0.6 will not support the growth of these moulds and yeasts.

This sample, which has a higher water activity will be an ideal breeding ground for yeasts and moulds once it is opened. The danger in moulds is that it can build up various toxins with continued use. Yeasts would cause fermentation of the glucose and hence spoilage. This would lead to upset stomachs.

According to an officer who conducted the research, the packaging used for the glucose is not sufficient to prevent spoilage if stored in unsatisfactory conditions. It should be packed in smaller packs which could be consumed at once after it is opened and not left exposed to fermentation and spoilage.

Brigadier P.G. Charles of the Directorate of Supplies & Transport of the Sri Lanka Army explained that all tenders over the value of Rs.10 million are called by the Ministry of Defence.

Tenders between Rs.5 million to Rs.10 million have to be approved by the Ministry. Only tenders for fresh ration items below Rs.5 million annual value for some camps, is called directly by the Army.

When the tender is called, the items required are gazetted and a supplier may tender for all or a few of the items, along with samples. These samples are sent to the CISIR for testing. Only the approved samples are evaluated by the Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC). Having considered the quality and the value of the samples, the TEC makes their recommendations to the Cabinet Appointed Tender Board (CATB). The final decision is taken by the CATB.

Further, Brig. Charles said that the ration packs are distributed from Panagoda to various supply squadrons. Sometimes the rations are issued in bulk to the units and they pack and use as necessary.

To the north, the foodstuffs are usually sent in bulk in the original packing because when they are repacked the lifetime is less. Some ration packs are packed in Panagoda when the units request it. The respective battalions draw their requirements from the supply squadrons. The units usually keep 48 hour requirements in ration packs as a stand-by in case of a situation where they cannot cook their food. They are expected to use the older packs first.

The Brigadier insisted that the supply squadrons never issue outdated foodstuffs. If they are not consumed before the expiry date, the units are expected to return them to the supply squadrons before one month of expiry so that they could be sent to battalions where they will be consumed without delay.

If rations get outdated, which he said happens only rarely, they have to get it written off. Sometimes, due to bad storage, some food items become unfit even before the expiry date. They are expected to return them and get them condemned. He says it could be that some units have not consumed what they have drawn and not returned them to avoid explanation as to why they were allowed to expire. He commented that it is often very difficult to explain to the Ministry why some foodstuffs have to be written off.

"Sometimes we have to write ten to fifteen letters before we can convince them," the officer said. "They think that we have optimum storage facilities in the camps."

Wherever the responsibility lies, the fact remains that some outdated and unpalatable foodstuffs have been found in the ration packs issued to soldiers fighting to safeguard their country. It is left for the authorities concerned to take stock of the situation and ensure that foodstuffs provided to the soldiers are wholesome and fit for consumption.

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