British Army has a Trump downside as new meals rations trigger windy ‘repercussions’

Squaddies are complaining that Army rations packed with beans and pulses are causing serious wind problems for troops on operations.

Soldiers claim that the packs – which once contained favourites like Lancashire hotpot, breakfast sausage and beans, and fruit pudding – have been replaced with more exotic meals like Pindi Chana Aloo and three-bean chilli.

And one said that rations containing meat were being replaced by veggie options that made troops fart. One squaddie felt so concerned about the issue that he wrote a letter to Soldier magazine, an official Army publication, asking why rations had changed.

He said the vegetarian meals were causing severe “digestive repercussions” for some troops on exercise, which was not good for their comrades.

Writing in Soldier magazine, the squaddie said: “What’s with all the beans, lentils and chickpeas that now seem to fill every ration pack?

“I get they’re a good source of protein and calories (especially with meat featuring less), but the digestive repercussions can be unpleasant. Those with irritable bowel syndrome or inflammatory bowel disease also find legumes hard to tolerate, the last thing they or their colleagues need on exercise.

“As much as I love a ‘Ruby Murray’, I don’t want it at every meal. Yet bean-based curries seem to feature on practically all menus. Meanwhile, the most popular bean dish by far, the breakfast sausage and beans, has disappeared. Bring it back, please, along with Lancashire hotpot, corned beef hash and fruit salad pudding.”

Other veggie menu options served up to troops on exercise or operations include vegetable and chickpea biryani, chickpea curry, edamame bean curry, Moroccan-style bean stew.

Another soldier added: “It might seem like a joke to some people, but if you are sharing a room with someone or a trench on exercise and they literally cannot stop farting because of the food they are eating, then it’s not funny.”

The complaints led one member of the Royal Navy to claim that soldiers are now living up to their nickname, Pongos.

He said: “The Royal Navy and the Royal Marines have long referred to soldiers as Pongos because everywhere the Army goes the pong goes, seems like that is now true. That said, we also have to eat the same food and it does make people a bit windy”.

A MoD spokesperson said: “Operational ration packs are developed to meet Defence nutritional standards and to support personnel across a wide range of operational and training environments where conventional catering is not available. There has been no change to Army rations.”