Pizza Made for Army Will Stay Fresh for 3 Years

Soldiers wanted pizza, so the U.S. military delivered some that they can nosh on for up to three years.

Scientists at the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center (NSRDEC) in Natick, Mass. have been working on a “meals ready-to-eat” (MRE) — lightweight field rations used since 1981 when the meals replaced canned food — version of pizza. On Feb. 6, the team created their first prototype pizza.

The ingredients posed the biggest problem with creating pizza that could last the amount of time required for military food rations — namely the moisture from tomato sauce, cheese and toppings seeping into the dough. Over time, that moisture would result in soggy pizza — perfect conditions for mold and bacteria to grow. Read more...