Military researchers in the US have defied the odds and created a pizza that remains fresh for three years outside of the fridge.
Apparently soldiers have for years been asking for a pizza field ration, known as an MRE (Meals Ready to Eat), but researchers have only just worked out how to get the bread, sauce and cheese to exist together in one product without spoiling.
The Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Centre in Massachusetts made the breakthrough. The pizza, which is contained in a bag, uses humectants to bind to the water and keep it from getting into the dough.
They also tweaked the acidity of the sauce, cheese and dough to make it harder for oxygen and bacteria to flourish, and included a sachet of iron filings to the pouch to absorb any remaining air.
The product is just a prototype and is still being tested, but troops could be putting the first products through their paces sooner – or later.
