Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Food
Army Sandwich Stays Fresh For TWO YEARS
By
Jamie Feldmar
Published Dec 15, 2011
Modified Dec 15, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jamie Feldmar
Published Dec 15, 2011
Modified Dec 15, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
No one joins the Army for the food, but even career soldiers can get a little sick of carrying around bulky, tasteless Meals-Ready-To-Eat (MREs) like "Spaghetti with Meat Sauce." So Army food officials decided to create a new food for soldiers, something that can stay shelf-stable for years on end and be at least somewhat palatable. Their solution? A sandwich. A sandwich that can stay fresh for two freaking years.
The BBQ chicken sandwich is made with ingredients (like honey and salt) that help trap water—and therefore moisture, which causes decay—in the food itself, and packaged in a mainly airtight bag that's filled with a little packet of iron shavings, aka "oxygen scavengers," to soak up leftover moisture and oxygen. It's called the tough-sounding "First Strike Ration," and here's a video explaining how it gets made in more detail, in which one taste-tester soldier describes it as "the best two-year-old sandwich I've ever had. And better than a lot of new ones, too." But still not as good as this four-year-old McDonald's cheeseburger.
Tagged
army
first strike ration
food science
sandwich
wow
Jamie Feldmar
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE food
Where are the cheapest drinks in NYC? A new report details the city's average prices.
The median price of a cocktail in the city is now $16, and $9 for a draft beer.
By
Hannah Frishberg
Published Oct 19, 2026
North African restaurants are rare in NYC. These 10 are the best.
Egyptian, Moroccan, Algerian and Tunisian food is delicious but underrepresented in the city.
By
Robert Sietsema
Food
North African restaurants are rare in NYC. These 10 are the best.
Egyptian, Moroccan, Algerian and Tunisian food is delicious but underrepresented in the city.
By
Robert Sietsema
10 dishes that demonstrate the delicious diversity of curry in New York City
By
Robert Sietsema
Frozen yogurt is back in New York City. So are the super long lines.
By
Sonia Rao
5 NYC banana puddings as good as Magnolia's
By
Hannah Frishberg
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .