Food ration bar explained

A food ration bar (also known as emergency food bar or compressed food bar)^[1] is a type of biscuit generally included in emergency rations and compact field rations. A cross between a hardtack and an energy bar, these shelf-stable products provide a high caloric density and are generally made of grain flour, sugar, and vegetable oil.

Food ration bars may be consumed directly or broken up and mixed with water for a porridge. The composition depends on usage: humanitarian versions place a focus on protein content and nutrition fortification,^[2] while naval products place the emphasis on it being non-thirst-provoking.^[3]

Some example ration bars are:

• A-28 (rice) and A-29 (wheat), two USDA humanitarian standard products^[4]
• BP-5 Compact Food, fortified humanitarian^[2]
• Datrex, for lifeboat use^[3]
• Type 90, Chinese military ration

Food bar standards are issued by maritime agencies such as the U.S. Coast Guard^[3] and humanitarian agencies such as the World Food Program,^[1] each for their respective use cases.

Food ration bars under the name of Chinese: 压缩干粮 "compact dry food" are a core part of the military food of the Chinese People's Liberation Army for field and emergency use.^[5]

The experimental Close Combat Assault Ration for the US Army features several food bars,^[6] produced using vacuum microwave drying and a new "sonic agglomeration" technology (a combination of ultrasonic welding and molding)^[7] that removes the need of binding agents.^[8]

See also

• High energy biscuit, a World Food Program standard product for humanitarian use; functionally similar but are proper biscuits in form
• Ninja diet
• , a high caloric density food used by Japanese matagi hunters

External links

• 2019 PLA LQ-002 Compact 24 Hour Food, review by Steve1989MREInfo on YouTube  - example of Chinese food bars in current use

Notes and References

1. Web site: Specialized nutritious foods . . 2017-04-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170425032346/https://www.wfp.org/nutrition/special-nutritional-products. 2017-04-25 . en.
2. March 2007 . Final Report on Development of an Emergency Food Product: Product and Packaging Specifications, Shelf Life Study and Drop Test Synopsis . United States Agency for International Development .
3. Web site: Best emergency rations (lifeboat food bars) . The Prepared. 15 November 2020 .
4. https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/efp2.pdf
5. Web site: Military newspaper goes through the PLA's individual ration development: from ration bars to self-heating food. zh:军报梳理人民军队单兵口粮发展史：从压缩饼干到自热食品 . https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail%5Fforward%5F1757726 . zh:澎湃新闻.
6. Web site: More nutrition to fuel Soldier lethality . Defense Logistics Agency.
7. Web site: Kord . Tyler . Cooking (and Shrinking) the Modern Combat Ration . www.yahoo.com . June 29, 2019.
8. Web site: New High Energy Bar from SOUND Seeks to Transform Combat Rations . WorldBakers. 6 March 2023 .