Scientists of Mysore-based Defence Food Research laboratory (DFRl) under DRDO have developed toffees, energy bars and ready-to-eat meals exclusively for the Indian Navy. According to Dr HV Bhatra, Director of DFRl, the exclusive food preparation developed at DFRl laboratory is still in the trial stage and would help naval officers fight fatigue, depression, sea sickness, muscular stiffness and other ailments faced by the Navy personnel.
These exclusive food bars and toffees are made out of seaweed and other marine sources which are expected to address sea sickness, fatigue and muscular stiffness. The DFRl started this project for the Indian Navy in 2010 and it is now in final stages of implementation.The Defence food laboratory is also working on anti-sea sickness meals using fruits and vegetables and herbs
According to Dr Batra, the need was to extract active marine compounds from marine sources such as weeds and other properties to provide packaged food to Indian Navy with longer shelf life. The trials were held at naval bases in Kochi, Vishakhapatnam and Mumbai.The scientists in DFRl, affiliated with the project, feel it was a challenge to provide ready-to-eat meals for Navy personnel but they are trying to provide a variety of food items with longer shelf life exclusively for naval officers and the submarines.
The Defence Food Research laboratory (DFRl) is an Indian laboratory working under the Defence Research & Development Organization (DRDO). located in Mysore, Karnataka, it conducts research and development of technologies and products in the area of food science and technology to cater to a variety of food challenges for the Indian Armed Forces. DFRl is organised under the life Sciences Directorate of DRDO.
DFRl, over the years, has catered to the needs of Armed forces in respect to the development of pack rations, preservation and packaging methods for long distance transportation of perishable products, evaluation of nutritional requirements of troops deployed under different climatic conditions, quality assurance methods for pack rations, establishment of commercial sources of supply of the products developed in the laboratory.