Here's what different countries feed their troops, from kimchi to dried cappuccino to pizza with a three-year shelf life

Sat, 09/09/2023 - 09:12

A soldiers spoons out chili-mac to feed soldiers in a tent in the Saudi desert.
Tannen Maury/AP

Soldiers used to have limited options when it came to meal choices during their service.
They either eat at dining facilities or if they are in the field, they eat vacuum-packed meals called MREs.
Most countries tend to provide some local flavors or foods for their soldiers in the MREs.

Since the 1980s, armies have worked to improve the way they feed their soldiers.

Around the world, most armies make sure their vacuum-sealed field rations come with at least a few traditional foods that soldiers are familiar with to help boost morale.

In the US, MREs have to fulfill a number of requirements. They need to have a minimum shelf life of 3.5 years at a mild temperature, or nine months in a hot climate. They also need to be able to withstand being dropped from 1,250 feet.

US soldiers get pizza with a three-year shelf-life, Korean soldiers get kimchi, and Italian soldiers get a shot of alcohol, to name a few.

Here are 14 different armies and the foods they feed their soldiers.

A US army official said early MREs were filled with "mystery meat and no-name casseroles," and soldiers quickly got tired of them.

US troops sort through their MREs for breakfast in southwest Iraq.
Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images

After the Gulf War in 1991, the military realized bad-tasting and monotonous MREs could hurt morale. Gen. Colin Powell, then the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the head of the Combat Feeding Directorate: "Fix it." So that's what they tried to do.

Now, US soldiers are fed a variety of MREs — they get more than 24 meal choices. The meal kits usually cover either a full meal or a day's worth of eating, and they come with utensils, a flameless heating tool, and drinks.

Their options include chili beans, chicken noodles, or spaghetti bolognese. They get crackers, cheese, powdered fruit drinks, and almond poppy seed pound cake. Soldiers can even celebrate birthdays with special MRE birthday cakes.

Despite the wide range of options, US troops consistently requested one more kind of meal for years — pizza. Scientists spent two decades working on a pepperoni pizza with a three-year shelf life. It was added to the MRE menu in 2018.

Across the border in Canada, soldiers are fed MREs with options including salmon or couscous for vegetarians.

A shot of a Canadian MRE next to an American MRE.
Bernard Weil/Toronto Star/Getty Images

They also get peanut butter and jam for a breakfast sandwich.

Surprisingly, Canadian soldiers don't get any maple syrup in their meal kits.

In Britain, soldiers are fed a national favorite — chicken tikka masala. They are also provided with vegetarian pasta, pork and beans, or a clam chowder option.

A British soldier eats his MRE in Afghanistan.
Paula Bronstein/Getty Images

There are mints for after the meal and Typhoo tea or Kenco coffee to wash it down.

During the Iraq War, British military leaders courted controversy by replacing chocolate bars with peanut butter sachets since the chocolate had been melting in the desert heat.

In South Korea, soldiers are fed chicken and rice, beans and rice, pork sausages, meatballs, dried spicy vegetable broth powder, and kimchi.

A South Korean marine eats dinner during a military drill against possible attacks by North Korea.
Yang Hee-Seok/Reuters

The vegetable broth requires hot water. Korea's MRE heater is different from most military MRE heaters because it doesn't need water to heat up. They also get bibimbap, a traditional rice and meat dish.

In 2020, South Korea's military announced soldiers would soon be able to eat vegan meals. The new menu would include tofu, vegetables, salads, and a vegetarian bibimbap, local newspaper Dong-a Ilbo reported.

In China, soldiers are fed pork egg rolls, vegetables, and pickled mustard root.

Chinese People's Liberation Army soldiers eating as they patrol along the border of Khunjerab Pass in Kashgar in China's western Xinjiang region.
STR/AFP/Getty Images

In Japan, soldiers are fed curries, frankfurters, and hamburgers. They also get dried tuna and daikon, which is pickled radish.

A troop of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force eats during a break.
Joe Klamar/AFP/Getty Images

In 2003, it was reported that Japanese soldiers had to bring their own condiments and chopsticks.

In France, soldiers are fed stews, risottos, soups, duck confit, and deer pâté.

French soldiers eating rations in Mali.
Daphne Benoit/AFP/Getty Images

They get muesli bars, three types of biscuits, crackers, and blue cheese. For dessert, they get chocolate pudding. At one point, they also were given a carton of red wine.

In Italy, soldiers are fed a 40% alcohol shot of Grappa for breakfast, as well as powdered cappuccino.

Italian soldiers eat canned food in Lebanon.
Awad Awad/AFP/Getty Images

For solid food, they get pasta, bean soup, rice salad, tinned meat, and biscotti.

In Spain, soldiers are fed green beans and ham, tinned tuna salad, as well as squid in vegetable oil.

Spanish soldiers eating their MREs in Afghanistan.
Paula Bronstein/Getty Images

They get crackers instead of bread and for dessert, they're given peaches in syrup. Soldiers are also given hydration tabs and a selection of vitamins.

In Germany, soldiers are fed goulash and potatoes, sausage liver spread, rye bread, and biscotti.

German volunteer soldiers eating during training.
Unkel/Ullstein Bild/Getty Images

For drinks, they're provided with sachets of juice powder.

In Russia, soldiers are fed biscuits, bacon, buckwheat porridge with beef, or beef goulash. They get tea, coffee, bitter chocolate, and chewing gum.

Russian soldiers enjoy a meal at their positions on the Sleptsovskaya check point on the Chechen border.
Anatoly Maltsev/AP

For Russians, the problem is less about taste and more about availability. Last year, Russia had to ask China for MREs to feed its troops during its war on Ukraine, CNN reported.

Zhenya Mykhailenko, a chef from Ukraine, told the Financial Times Russia had the worst MREs.

"Not even dogs eat them," he said.

He also said French MREs were the best and had a superior heating system, while the British had a poor vegetarian option for their soldiers.

In Norway, soldiers are fed a variety of stews — beef, chicken, or cod — as well as rice, fish curries, and protein bars.

Two Norwegian soldiers on a ski patrol at the border of Norway and Russia.
Annika Byrde/NTB/AFP/Getty Images

They also get Rowntrees Tooty Fruities, a type of sweet.

Since some Norwegian troops are stationed in freezing mountain regions, hot stews are a must.

One Norwegian soldier noted someone chipped their tooth from eating one of the protein bars because it was so hard.

In Australia, soldiers are fed sandwiches with jam or Vegemite, chili, and tuna pasta, along with cheese, chocolate bars, soft drinks, condensed milk, and sweets.

Australian soldiers march during the Anzac Day ceremony in Turkey.
Emrah Guerel/AP

The Australian army's meal rations came with more sweets compared to others.

In New Zealand, it wasn't the MREs soldiers were complaining about, but the meals served in dining facilities.

New Zealand soldiers during an exercise at Linton Military Camp in Palmerston North, New Zealand.
Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images

The meals included stew and a watery vegetable soup. A soldier said prisoners probably got served better dinners than they did.

One army camp facility's food was so "disgusting" that the soldiers posted about it on Facebook. It got to the point where the soldiers bought a gas cooker and made their own meals.

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Here's what different countries feed their troops, from kimchi to dried cappucc…