Is the BDF feeding its soldiers expired food? That is what some soldiers assigned to patrol in Belize City claim. Earlier this month the force started serving army rations instead of the regular cooked food to those soldiers on patrol in Belize City. But now those soldiers say that not only are they being fed rations, but they are being fed expired rations. 7NEWS investigates.
Keith Swift Reporting,
These MRE or 'meals ready to eat' that serve the Belize military as field rations were all the talk this morning on radio with the claim being made that the dates of expiration are past due and BDF soldiers are still being forced to eat them. Major Irvin Gabourel is the force doctor.
Major Irvin Gabourel, BDF Doctor
"I think we need to look at the production date and the way the manufacturer…most companies would manufacture a product that has a shelf life. It doesn't make sense to produce a product that is very expensive and has a short shelf life so the manufacture suggests that 5 years is an acceptable shelf life for this. So the answer to your question is that its not expired, the consumption date is still up until the end of December. That is the production date and the meal is consumable up to 5 years from the date of production."
KS: So they will be good up until December 28th or is that the recommended date?
Major Irvin Gabourel, BDF Doctor
"That's the recommended date however they also suggest that it can be consumed six months after that date."
But more than explaining the dates away, Major Gabourel took his explanation and put it to the test, himself eating the rations. There was not much that I could do but join in the feasting. Aside from the shrink-wrap taste typical to these military rations there is nothing wrong with it. Gabourel however says that while the meals are good to eat they are not exactly a home cooked meal of rice and beans.
Major Irvin Gabourel, BDF Doctor
"See all these meals are completely sealed in a vacuum so if somebody have weevil in them, they probably opened in beforehand. There are not really palpable like your homemade food but these are meals that are made for you to go into the field and to have some type of energy in your body. So maybe its not the best tasting food but it has all the nourishment that your body needs."
So it may not be the best tasting food but at least they haven't made us sick...or at least not yet!
The BDF has about 80 soldiers assigned to work with the police and army officials say after the Christmas season they will resume to feeding them freshly cooked food.