Before the first world war, Indian soldiers received only cash allowances, the nutritive value of the food given to our soldiers was neglected. During the second world war, the supply of rations became difficult, and our soldiers got affected by malnutrition. The government authorities recommended foods of higher nutritive value to our soldiers, after independence, the Indian soldiers were supplied with food preserved by traditional methods. There were difficulties in transporting, storage, handling, and packaging as these foods were prone to physical and chemical deterioration during these stages.
DFRL
The defense food research laboratory in Mysore was established on 28th, December 1961 under defense research and development organization, to fulfill the food needs of the army, navy, and air-force.
A virtual trip to Mysore with food technology
The prime aim was to engineer lightweight, convenient packaged foods with a longer self-life that suits extreme climatic conditions.
DFRL has developed a great variety of nutritious bars to meet the energy needs of soldiers, such as compressed tasty bar, protein-rich composite cereal bar, sweet and sour tasty bar, flax oat tasty bar rich in soluble fibers, ergogenic energy-rich bar, barley bar rich in glucan, omega-3 rich bar, cocoa delight bar rich in antioxidants and fiber, a bar for high altitudes. And each serves a specific nutrition need with help of a specific functional ingredient and provides a calorific range of 400-540 kcal with a shelf life of about 6-15 months.
Barley bar
Lifestyle changes have led to reduced fiber intake, which hinders digestion. Food bars with barley grains met the adequate need for fiber in the body.
Cocoa delight bar
The most preferred chocolate bar developed is made from cocoa powder, butter, and sugar, which is rich in antioxidants and flavonoids owing to be a healthy, and tasty delight as well.
Composite cereal bar
The bar is made of several kinds of cereals including barley, maize, wheat, and soy, and contains the essential amino acids, the protein needed to make a balanced, nutritious diet, alleviating protein-energy malnutrition.
Composite tasty bar
During the emergency, survival situations, long patrol duties troops need a continuous supply of energy, this protein-rich nutritious bar which is light in weight, easy to carry, provides sufficient energy in the form of calories.
Soy fortified oat bar
The bar has a long shelf life of about 15 months. The beta-glucan and amino acids present are known to provide health benefits.
Ergogenic bar
This bar is prepared by using jaggery, walnut, cinnamon, pepper, ginger, turmeric powder, which helps warm the body of army troops in extremely cold conditions.
Flax oat tasty bar
This bar is prepared by using flax-seeds and oats, so it is rich in fibers both soluble and insoluble.
Omega-3 rich bar
This bar is made from walnut and flax seeds, which are rich sources of omega-3 fatty acids that are known to be heart-healthy, which provides energy and also increases HDL in the body.
Ready to eat Nutri food bar
These provide fullness and are a chewy, dense, nutrition-rich compressed bar prepared from readily assimilable sources of carbohydrates and proteins, and serves a meal supplement in packed army rations.
Sweet-sour tasty bar
To provide a change in taste, sweet and soar bars are developed and contains salt, sugar, chili powder, and nuts, etc
Chicken biscuits
Chicken is a good source of readily digestible proteins, essential amino acids, fatty acids, and B-Complex vitamins and hence helps cater to the protein needs of armed force at high altitudes, as a high protein snack.
Egg protein biscuit
Protein-rich biscuits have been developed from real egg solids in three known flavors, vanilla, pineapple, and orange. The biscuits have nearly 20% protein and provide energy of about 475 kcal/100g.
Holibite
This instant health-oriented RTE product was developed for emergency use after exertion. It provides 108Kcal for every 30g capsule, 4-6 capsules are enough to help during emergencies as the product contains about 70% honey.
Performance enhancement drink
Aloe Vera is known to have various health benefits. It is known to improve blood circulation, helping in the supply of nutrients to the cells and thus enhances the nutrient absorption across the endothelial cells to the bloodstream. These two properties have been utilized to develop this pomegranate performance enhancement drink to enhance physical performance.
Spiced low-calorie aloe vera beverage
Spiced aloe vera beverage helps reduce blood sugar levels in type -2 diabetic patients owing to its anti-diabetic property. It also has proven health benefits in other people.
Aloe vera fruit spread and bar
Aloe Vera gel with a fruit base of mango helps improve colon health and serve as a bread spread with various health benefits.
Appetizers
Appetizers solve the problem of loss of appetite, faced at high altitudes. The development of ready to eat appetizers with a shelf life of 8 months, is a unique contribution in meeting the appetite needs and requirements of our real heroes. RTE appetizers include ginger munch, fruit munch, pepper munch, lemon munch, and ajwain munch.
Shelf stable chapatis
After extensive research, the food scientist team has successfully developed shelf stable chapatis with natural sensory attributes and extended shelf life, using thermal processing, additives, and flavors that are of different varieties.
Heroes for life
A gratitude note to all the true heroes of now
We can pause and wait for time to pass and, certainly, the world will soon resume. Without these heroes who fight the unknown, we can never relax and calm. Before you thank them with words, show your gratitude for the selfless duty they perform placing themselves in the path of uncertainty just to make us comfortable and safe.
Don’t they do God’s work despite being human. Respect and remember the relentless efforts they render to resume the world around them. Spare a minute every day and pray for their safety for prayer has power.
To all the heroes out there,
Not many can be what you all are, and do what you all do. Thank you! #Doctors #Nurses #HealthcareWorkers #SanitaryWorkers #Police #Farmers #DailyEssentialsServiceProviders and each and every person going an extra step to make things better for others.
Antioxidants for heath
Quinoa is having a lot of antioxidants that help fight diseases and neutralize free radicals, proving strength to our immune system.
An interesting piece of information
All these convenience foods which work the miracle for today’s super women were first invented, for the armed forces of our nation.
Content courtesy: DFRL official website.
I have heard a lot about DFRL but I didn’t know they had such a rich variety of products. Kudos to them and thank you for sharing. 🙂
An insightful read and quite innovative. Are they the ones who have developed those heat and eat food packets – curries, rice etc.?
Yea, it is was for the army first these convince foods were invented for.