The Ministry of Defence has announced plans to tackle one of the greatest enemies of British Service personnel – ill-health brought on by unbalanced diet.

The MOD has joined forces with QinetiQ and CCFRA, two leading research organisations, to examine al aspects of Defence catering, nutrition, and future requirements for rations.

The aim is to develop menus that help maximise physical and mental performance, and address the growing problems of obesity and over-reliance on junk food – a problem which affects both the military and civilians – and the impact on Service personnel’s health and fitness.

Speaking at CATCON 04, a major catering conference which brings together experts in defence catering from industry, the Services and the academic sector, Brig Jeff Little, Director of the Defence Catering Group, said: “The UK Armed Forces has traditionally fed its soldiers very well, but even though many are happy to regularly stock up on steak and chips, we have a duty to provide meals that combine taste with a healthy diet.

“This involves getting a healthy balance between fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and sugars.

“The partnership will look at all aspects of Defence feeding, from ration packs to field kitchens, and we hope to start introducing changes within 12 months.

“It’s an incredible challenge, because the environments where we operate present some of the greatest challenges in the catering spectrum – they are not usually conducive to haute cuisine.”

CATCON 04 took place at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole last week.

The Defence catering Group is part of the Defence Logistics Organisation (DLO), and is responsible for the quality and types of meals prepared for the Armed Forces.

In recent years the MOD has spent considerable efforts developing meals suitable for people from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds, and more than 20 different types of ration packs are currently available to troops in military operations, ranging from Halal to vegetarian meals.

Brig Little observed that generating the cultural change required for a generation raised on cheeseburgers and TV dinners will be a considerable challenge, and he said he was not expecting immediate results.

“However, if the MOD can be seen to deliver improvements, I believe other parts of society can learn and benefit from our experience,” he said.

“This is why we believe this partnership is so important and worth supporting.”

QinetiQ is the largest science and technology organisation in Europe, and as a former agency of the MOD has a distinguished track record as a provider of technological and cutting-edge developments for the Armed Forces.

CCFRA Group is the UK’s largest independent membership-based organisation carrying out research and development for the food and drinks industry worldwide.