PHILADELPHIA –
When it comes to the nutritional quality of military meals, one thing remains constant: feeding America’s military is not just a logistics function — it’s a readiness mission.
“At the Defense Logistics Agency, every meal procured for service members around the world reflects a deliberate process built on science, strict safety standards and an unwavering commitment to quality,” said Navy Capt. Timothy Griffin, DLA Subsistence director. “From individually packaged meals in a soldier’s ruck sack, to a ship’s galley and to full-service dining facilities on military installations, DLA provides the food.”
Nutrition is readiness
Proper nutrition directly impacts cognitive function, endurance, strength and overall health, explained Starr Seip, a DLA nutritionist.
“Since food is fuel for the body, it is important that our service members are given meals that do just that,” Seip said. “What our service members eat matters. We adhere to standards built to optimize not only performance but protect the long-term health of our military.”
DLA follows several guidelines when procuring food for the services.
“The system for feeding the U.S. armed forces is guided by a top-down set of rules and standards,” Seip said. “It all starts with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which are updated every five years and provide general health advice for the whole country. From these national guidelines, the Department of War creates the armed forces menu standards. These standards are more specific and tailored to the performance needs of service members.”
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, DOW menu standards and the armed forces recipes align in promoting whole-food protein sources, fruits and vegetables, and reduced reliance on highly processed foods.
Each military branch develops its own buyer’s guide based on standards found in DOW Manual 1338.10.
“These guides list the exact specifications for all food items, from main courses to drinks, ensuring that everything purchased is of high quality and meets the required standards,” Seip said.
Safety without compromise
Food safety is non-negotiable and paramount to DLA’s subsistence support to the military, said Army Lt. Col. Tselane Ware, chief for DLA Troop Support food safety.
DLA ensures compliance with all applicable Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Department of War food safety regulations. Suppliers are required to comply with all testing requirements as stated in contracts.
“We hold our suppliers to clearly defined standards and verify that those standards are met,” Ware said.
Products undergo inspections, audits and quality assurance checks throughout the supply chain.
“The military’s approach to food safety is multifaceted,” Ware said. “From production facilities to delivery points, we apply multiple safeguards to protect the force.”
Quality at every step
Delivering food to customers across the United States and globally requires coordination, oversight and attention to detail.
“Through our partnerships, DLA provides extensive testing, inspection, quality assurance and quality control for all the subsistence we obtain and deliver,” Griffin said. “DLA is committed to its mandate to provide safe and high-quality food to the warfighter.”
He added that the agency is proud to meet or exceed the food safety and quality standards established by Titles 7 and 21 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations and furthered by other food-oversight federal agencies.
Whether fresh produce, frozen proteins, dairy products or operational rations, quality is tracked from origin to end user.
“Our inspection and audit teams travel near and far to inspect commercial food manufacturing and storage facilities to ensure standards are being met,” Griffin said. “The military services also inspect every DOW feeding operation around the globe to ensure food is being stored, prepared and served according to national and international standards.”
Always improving
As the needs of the service members evolve, so do what is procured and how it’s procured.
“We actively listen to customer feedback,” Griffin said. “Continuous improvement is always at the forefront. When we hear opportunities to enhance quality or variety, we work collaboratively with our service partners to address them.”
Efforts to modernize menus include expanding fresh options, reducing excess sodium and added sugars where feasible, and incorporating performance nutrition research, Seip said.
A commitment that goes beyond procurement
Behind every contract and shipment, DLA has a team of acquisition professionals, quality assurance specialists, food safety experts and logisticians who understand that their work directly impacts the well-being of service members.
“This is about readiness,” Griffin said. “When our warfighters sit down for a meal, they should have complete confidence in its quality and safety. At DLA, that confidence is earned every day.”
Because readiness begins on the plate — and the mission demands nothing less.