PHILADELPHIA –
This year, Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support ‘s Subsistence supply chain delivered $353,447 in kosher for Passover meals—or 17,304 special meals, ready to eat—to warfighters across the globe in time for Passover, April 5-13.
Since 2016, the Subsistence supply chain has procured and delivered kosher for Passover meals so that warfighters who religiously observe the holiday can enjoy certified meals wherever they are.
“This was our biggest year so far with 54 orders,” said Joseph Zanolle, customer account specialist with DLA Troop Support Subsistence supply chain. “We shipped 1,442 cases of MREs this year up from 982 cases in 2022.”
Zanolle is the main point of contact for this project and solicitation for orders begin in the Fall. As of April 1, all orders were delivered with 30 orders being received in the continental US and 24 orders sent overseas.
“There is a lot of lead time in reaching out to the customers,” said Stephen Priore, DLA Troop Support Subsistence supply chain Individual Rations branch chief. “Joe reaches out to several points of contacts six months in advance and many customers are in areas where they can't just respond back quickly.”
Newer customers often must be lead through the ordering process to ensure that orders are properly annotated and correct quantities can be recorded.
“We need to give the vendor a minimum and maximum number of orders per the contract and the size of the quantity gap has a major effect on the price per meal,” said Zanolle. “This year, each meal is about $21.”
DLA Troop Support currently has a contract with a singular vendor, LaBriute Meals which is located in Lakewood, N.J., to produce, package and ensure kosher for Passover certification for these specific MREs.
The production of kosher for Passover items is often a seasonal process as religious observance of the holiday requires a specific cleaning regimen that may combine cleansers, boiling water and fire depending on the utensil or appliance.
“LaBruite can’t produce kosher and kosher for Passover meals in the same production line,” said Zanolle. “We require affirmation that the meals were prepared within specific confines that are stricter than regular kosher.”
Among other requirements, kosher for Passover meals cannot contain wheat, oat, spelt, rye or barley that has been fermented or allowed to chemically rise. Equipment that has been used to prepare items with such either have to undergo a specific cleaning process or need to be procured specifically for Passover food production.
Once the meals are ready for delivery, overseas orders face other challenges such as ever-changing customs requirements depending on the destination of these meals which have a 9-month shelf life at 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
“That’s another reason why it’s a difficult program,” said Priore. “If you miss the required delivery date, you can’t save it for next year and we aren’t looking to design the meals to be more shelf-stable.”
The meals are designed to provide a minimum of 1200 calories and there are 12 meals per case with four different menus. The four entrees this year are: beef stew, salmon or tuna, bone-in chicken and gefilte fish.
“Passover and Easter are vitally important events to our servicemembers around the world,” said Cmdr. Patrick Amundson, DLA Troop Support Subsistence supply chain division chief. “While many were unable to be home to observe those holidays, our Subsistence team skillfully delivered Passover meals around the world—supporting our customers no matter where they are.”