New Delhi: In the eventuality of food shortage in the aftermath of COVID-19, Mysuru-based DRDO’s Defence Food Research Laboratory (DFRL) has prepared a Meals Ready to Eat (MRE) comprising rice, chapatis, curry, sweet and tea.

Though at present there is no large-scale shortage of food across the country even as the Covid-19 crisis rages on, laboratories involved in food research are gearing up to ensure that ready-to-eat food is available, if a worst case scenario occurs and there is a shortage.

DFRL has been developing packaged rations for the armed forces for many decades, and is ensuring that its Meals Ready to Eat (MREs) would be available if there is a shortage of fresh food.

“DRDO has been traditionally supplying food for the armed forces. The MREs are consumed by the armed forces personnel when freshly cooked food cannot be supplied in remote or far-flung areas where they are deployed. Similarly, we are working to ensure that there is supply of these MREs, if fresh food is not available due to the ongoing Covid-19 crisis,” AK Singh, director general (life sciences), DRDO told the media.

“Supply of hygienic food is important in the present crisis, the ready to eat food developed by us adheres to this aspect. Our MREs are easy to transport and can be served to people who are employed in the healthcare and essential services sector,” he said.

Typically, one MRE consists of rice, chapatis, vegetarian/non-vegetarian curry, sweet, tea, Singh said, adding that the ready to eat food would focus on energy and palatability.