Combat Ration Network for Technology Implementation - Alert to Temperature Abuse of Unitized Group Rations - A (UGR-A)
Abstract
The Unitized Group Ration - A (UGR-A) is the most highly accepted ration in the UGR family. It is the only military operational ration that contains frozen food components. Each UGR-A module is made up of 2 shelf stable boxes and 1 frozen box. These rations are assembled in CONUS and shipped around the world for use in field feeding by deployed units. The frozen box containing perishable foods is stored at 0 F and must have 9 months remaining shelf life for OCONUS deliveries. Food safety and quality of frozen products is largely dependent on maintaining the proper temperature during transportation, storage, and thawing/tempering. Understanding the potential for temperature abuse of food is an important element in designing effective food safety controls. New technology can assist the food industry and risk assessors in evaluating the temperature-related risk profile of perishable food products. The data can enable the industry to maximize product quality, while minimizing the food safety risk caused by potential temperature abuse that occurs after a product leaves a food manufacturing facility. This project studied quality deterioration at various storage temperature and time periods well beyond what can be expected during the normal life cycle of the product. Both sensory and analytical data indicate that quality deterioration to the point that the product has reached the end of its shelf life is very unlikely to occur. It is more likely that the product will go through defrost cycles that would either cause textural changes in the product or in the worst case, cause microbial growth resulting in safety concerns. Mathematical heat transfer models were developed for the various UGR-A rations. Based on these models we evaluated various case studies with temperature upsets to predict when a microbial safety concern would develop if a UGR-A case is exposed to 35 F environmental temperature for 11 hrs or more. Similar, it expected that a microbial safety.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 2013
- Accession Number
- ADA580527
Entities
People
- Bob Trottier
- Donald Schafner
- Henderikus B. Bruins
- Mukund Karwe
- Susan Harrington
Organizations
- Defense Logistics Agency