Barrage of protest over fish dishes for the troops

Published on Sunday 5 February 2012 00:00

AN ARMY marches on its stomach, so the old saying goes – unless fish is on the menu.

British troops serving in Afghanistan have staged a rebellion over attempts to put them on a piscatorial diet to improve their health.

Army chiefs decided to provide rations featuring fish such as salmon and tuna, in order to raise the amount of Omega 3 essential oils – which help cut heart disease risk – in their meals.

However, the fish-heavy menu sparked a revolt among personnel who demanded a return to meat-based meals.

In response, the fish dishes have been dropped from the revamped rations.

But, according to an MoD newsletter, the top brass have resorted to stealth tactics to keep fish intake up among the troops.

Lieutenant Colonel Simon Blake of the Army’s Logistic Support unit, which is responsible for providing meals to personnel in Afghanistan, admitted the extra fish dishes had not been in tune with the troops’ appetites.

He said: “Due to the desire to provide an Omega 3-rich diet, several of the new ration packs contained fish, either in the form of a snack option for lunch or as an element of the main meal.

“However, as a result of feedback, the number of fish dishes appearing in the menus has been reduced considerably.”

He added: “Fish – cunningly disguised in the paella – now only appears in one main meal. There are no more snack fish pouches, but the paella has been kept as many people like the variety it provides.”

In addition to sidelining fish dishes, a new range of energy-boosting snacks, including some childhood favourites, has been brought in.

Traditional ration packs, which were issued to British soldiers for decades, contained corned beef hash, powdered soup, chocolate bars, oat biscuits, pate, treacle pudding, spotted dick and powdered orange drinks.

Lisa Holmes, an Aberdeenshire-based nutrition expert, praised the MoD for trying to boost the amount of fish in army diets. She said: “Fish is an excellent low-fat source of protein which is very beneficial for people, like soldiers, who are active.

“It helps with muscle regeneration and gives a different balance of nutrients which would not be there if they just ate meat all the time.”

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