EXCELLENT INFRASTRUCTURE

The lab has excellent infra structure for under taking R&D work in the following areas:

• Preservation and Packaging of food materials.
• Fruits and Vegetable Technology.
• Meat, Fish and Poultry and Freeze Drying Technology.
• Cereal ,Pulses and Food Additives Technology.
• Food Microbiology.
• Food Biochemistry and Nutrition Evaluation.
• Contaminants and Safety Evaluation.
• Training, Consultancy and Extension services.

The lab is also recognized by universities as center of advanced research leading to M.Sc and Ph.D. Degrees in the field of food science and technology, biochemistry, chemistry and microbiology.

OPERATIONAL PACK RATIONS

DFRL has successfully designed operational pack rations for Army, Navy and Air force suiting to their operational needs. These rations have been tried extensively and have been found to meet their exact requirements. Some of the important ration packs which have been successfully tried and accepted are

• One-man supplementary compo pack ration for army.
• One-man complete meal compo pack ration.
• Emergency ration for Army.
• Emergency flying ration for Air crew.
• Survival ration for Navy.
• Commando pack ration.

In addition, DFRL has designed and supplied rations for Antarctica expeditions, various mountaineering expeditions (Kanchenjunga, Nanda Devi, Mount Everest), Rowing Expeditions (Trishna) and Indo-Soviet Space Mission.

TRANSPORTATION AND STORAGE OF PERISHABLE PRODUCTS

Transportation of fresh fruits and vegetables to troops deployed in far-flung areas was a major problem. The lab has successfully developed packaging and preservation technology which enables transportation and storage of fruits and vegetables for a period ranging from 5 to 20 days.

DFRL has successfully developed packaging and storage technologies for sugar and milled products for humid regions. Stack encapsulation technology enables safe storage of commodities for more than a year.

Rapid methods of spoilage and contamination detection

Fast methods of detection of pathogenic bacteria and spoilage in perishable foods is the hall mark of any quality assurance program and safety of food supplies. DFRL has developed rapid methods of detection of pathogenic bacteria E. Coli and salmonella in milk and milk products, total microbial contaminant in meat and spoilage levels in milk powder, oils and atta. The tests are simple and can be performed at depot levels having no lab facilities.

SPIN-OFF BENEFITS TO INDUSTRY

Thought many of the product/process technologies had been specifically developed to design operational pack ration for Indian armed forces, some of these technologies have immense potential for commercial marketing in India and abroad. Keeping in view, the high popularity of ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook products in civilian market, the laboratory has evolved a simple scheme for transfer of know-how of these products for benefit of entrepreneurs.The laboratory demonstrates the manufacture of these products at pilot plant scale and provides project feasibility and technical report to the entrepreneurs by charging a minimum fee ranging from Rs. 15,000 to 50,000/- for the process demonstration and know-how transfer.

The laboratory also provides analysis and shelf-life and packaging evaluation of Industrial products and provide quality assurance help to food processing industry. Details of the product/process technologies which are available from DFRL can be obtained from:

For details contact: