EMERGENCY FOOD RATION, carton of 500g (= 9 bars)
Valid Article
OC subscriptions: included in supply or field order tools (e.g. UniField)
|
|
SC subscriptions: included in supply or field tools
|
|
OC validations: approved for procurement and use by an OC for international or local orders specifying context and activity in Medical Standard Lists (MSL)
|
|
EMERGENCY FOOD RATION
Definition
Emergency food rations are compressed energy biscuits that provide all the essential macro- and micronutrients required to maintain body functions.
While not a therapeutic food product, these rations serve as a nutritional supplement, intended to replace or complement a general food ration when populations are unable to cook due to a lack of access to basic facilities (such as clean water or cooking equipment) during the initial phase of an emergency (e.g., natural or man-made disasters).
They can also be used as a snack to supplement food rations, providing vitamins and minerals in areas or populations where the diet may be lacking in essential nutrients.
These rations can be air dropped at various altitudes, even without a parachute (no significant damage has been reported when dropped from 183 m without a parachute).
Emergency food rations are appropriate for use in collective settings (such as hospitals or dispensaries) as well as for families.
Caution! Emergency food rations are not therapeutic foods and should not be used in the treatment of severe acute malnutrition.
Examples: BP-5 and GCR5
Specifications
Main Composition
Cooked wheat flour, partially hydrogenated soybean oil; sugar, soya protein concentrate, malt extract, minerals, amino acids and vitamins.
All ingredients are of vegetal origin.
Technical specifications
Nutritional values | Unit | Per 100 g | |
| Min. | Max. | ||
| Energy | kcal | 400 - 500 | 500 |
| Proteins | g | 12 | 18 |
| Lipids | g | 14 | 20 |
| Fibres | g | > 5 | - |
| Minerals | |||
| Sodium (Na) | mg | - | 100 |
| Potassium (K) | mg | 300 | 600 |
| Calcium (Ca) | mg | 400 | 600 |
| Phosphorus (P) | mg | 400 | 650 |
| Magnesium (Mg) | mg | 80 | 140 |
| Iron (Fe) | mg | 9 | 12 |
| Zinc (Zn) | mg | 9 | 12 |
| Copper (Cu) | mg | 0.6 | 12 |
| Selenium (S) | µg | 20 | 30 |
| Iodine (I) | µg | 70 | 120 |
| Vitamins | |||
| Retinol (Vit A) (RE) | mg | 0.4 | 0.7 |
| Cholecalciferol (Vit D) | µg | 3.7 | 11 |
| Tocopherol (Vit E) | mg | 6 | 11 |
| Thiamin (Vit B1) | µg | 0.5 | - |
| Riboflavin (Vit B2) | µg | 0.8 | - |
| Ascorbic ac. (Vit C) | mg | 40 | - |
| Pyridoxine (Vit B6) | µg | 0.87 | - |
| Cobalamin (Vit B12) | µg | 1.3 | - |
| Folic acid (Vit B9) | µg | 130 | - |
| Niacin (Vit B3) | mg | 8 | - |
| Pantothenic ac. (Vit B5) | mg | 3 | - |
| Biotin (Vit B7) | µg | 62.5 | - |
For more details on specifications (raw material, chemical toxicity...), see MSF Specifications: Emergency Rations (EMFR)
Packaging & Labelling
The primary and secondary packaging must protect the hygienic and nutritional qualities of the product during transport, handling, and storage under MSF field conditions.
- Primary packaging (unit packaging): cardboard box of 500 g containing 9 bars packed in a vacuum pack
- Secondary packaging: carton of 24 boxes
For more information on packaging labelling, refer to the CHECKLIST CONTROL UPON RECEIPT specialised food.
Instructions for use
This product can be consumed directly as a biscuit or crumbled into drinking water and consumed as a porridge.
Its packaging facilitates direct consumption.
Storage
- Vacuum packaging ensures that the product remains stable for 5 years from the manufacturing date stated on the packaging, regardless of storage conditions.
- The integrity of the packaging is essential.
- Once the aluminium packaging is opened, the product should be consumed within 2 weeks.
- The strength of the packaging and the low moisture content of the product, minimise the risk of degradation.
- The carton must be strong, capable of being stacked up to a height of 2.4 m.
Follow the procedure QA-NFOS-SOP3 Storage of specialised food (NFOS).
For procedures related to Quality Control, refer to Preliminary remarks on specialised food.
![[KADMKLIF02-] KIT, SURVIVAL, explo/evacuation, 2 persons/3 days](/web/image/product.template/554253/image_256/%5BKADMKLIF02-%5D%20KIT%2C%20SURVIVAL%2C%20explo-evacuation%2C%202%20persons-3%20days?unique=e4e4006)
![[NSFSCRECOSE] CHECKLIST CONTROL UPON RECEIPT specialised food, English](/web/image/product.template/572035/image_256/%5BNSFSCRECOSE%5D%20CHECKLIST%20CONTROL%20UPON%20RECEIPT%20specialised%20food%2C%20English?unique=7561dd3)
![[NSFSCRECOSF] CHECKLIST CONTROL UPON RECEIPT specialised food, French](/web/image/product.template/572046/image_256/%5BNSFSCRECOSF%5D%20CHECKLIST%20CONTROL%20UPON%20RECEIPT%20specialised%20food%2C%20French?unique=7561dd3)