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T. C. S. YANG, Advanced Processes & Packaging Team, CFP, Defense Department, U.S. Army SBCCOM, Kansas Street, Natick, MA 01760-5018 and W. G. Galetto, President, Distinctive Components Ltd., 2712 Crystal Lane, Baldwin, MD 21013.

JUSTIFICATION: The current wet-packed rations are bulky and heavy, and dehydrated rations are either of poor quality or expensive. Major reason is the majority of liquid in foods, mainly water, that is required to provide palatability of wet-packed foods or, in case of dehydrated rations, needed to be removed by expensive non-thermal methods to preserve food quality. These problems eventually resulted in an unnecessary logistic burden or elimination of the expensive items from the ration system, and soldiers would either discard the heavy and bulky ration components or be left with few varieties of rations.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate an air-dry/solvent-infusion technique in production of a shelf stable, low cube, low weight, high-quality instant entrée item for future combat feeding program.

METHODS: Various fruits and vegetables were processed according to a patented technology that involved air-drying and solvent infusion. The process was done to achieve a water activity at the lower end of an intermediate moisture range. The products were subsequently compressed and packaged. The same technology was applied to produce a complete entrée meal that is compressible.

RESULTS: Most vegetables were highly compressible (e.g., 7:1 volume reduction) while fruit bits were moderately compressible. Most water activity was around 0.6. A 3:1 volume reduction and a 4:1 weight reduction were demonstrated for a shelf stable entrée compressed at 5000 psi. An accelerated storage test indicated that the solvent used to produce such meals would need modification to reduce browning effect.

SIGNIFICANCE: The technology can achieve water removal with relative ease, and it also serves as a means for nutrient infusion. The potential of such process applies to both military and civilian sectors. A complete meal containing such ingredients will provide a low weight, low volume, higher nutrient density, and shelf stable benefits.