In the United States, Orthodox Jews take them to places where kosher food is unavailable. Starting with the next war, IDF infantrymen will carry them as they march into enemy territory.
They are called "Meal Marts" and are small white boxes of prepared meals cooked inside an aluminum tray by a built-in chemical factor that automatically heats up when mixed with 90 ml. of regular water. The meals have a three-year shelf life, cost $4 a piece and are manufactured by Alle Processing, based in Maspeth, New York.
As part of the lessons learned from the Second Lebanon War, the IDF Technical and Logistics Corps purchased thousands of these glatt-kosher meals that it plans to equip all infantry troops with ahead of a future conflict against Hizbullah in Lebanon or with Syria. The meals are all stamped with the kosher approval of the Orthodox Union.
The decision to purchase the meals was made as part of a NIS 4.5 million plan to purchase lightweight foods that can be stored for long periods and be carried by lone soldiers marching into battle by foot. The meals were tested earlier this month by soldiers during a Paratroop Brigade exercise in the Golan Heights.
"The meals are easy to travel with and they have a few years of shelf life, so they are a good solution," to the needs of army logistics, said Shlomo Loshinsky, owner of Global Gourmet Products, representative of Meal Mart in Israel. "They are easy to transport and there are over 10 meals that the army can get, so people can choose what they like."
The entrees include chicken, turkey and kebab. In addition, soldiers will receive dry salami, dried fruit, tuna, halva, a cupcake and four rolls.
The soldiers will carry the Meal Marts in their combat vests and one is supposed to last for 24 hours, the time the IDF estimates it will take to open supply lines into enemy territory. Units that are transported by vehicle will not receive the meals and will be supplied with the traditional combat rations, which are meant to feed four soldiers per box.
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