Because a supply helicopter had been shot down and it took an incredible 6 weeks to get food to the troops at Forward Operating Base in Sangin, the chef was tasked with feeding the troops using only what was in the store-cupboard - and it contained lots and lots of tins of Spam.
If the cupboards of Rigby Towers are anything to go by it's the less popular foodstuffs that hang around for longest, whilst the more popular items vanish in no time at all. Maybe military supplies are a bit different, with something 'sensible' being kept in reserve just in case - in case the supply chain breaks - and maybe that will explain the vast quantities of Spam.
It's hard to imagine eating only Spam, and nothing but Spam, for six whole weeks, even if it is dressed up in such wondrous recipes as Spam Fritters, Spam Carbonara and Sweet and Sour Spam. - The Mail kindly provides the recipes in case readers might like to imitate the military - and take a step back in time to post-war Britain.
Unfortunately a person calling themselves "Jenny Jones" thinks all this Spam eating was a bad thing, because her comment reads
This is clearly not good food. It will cause obesity and heart disease in the future and should be banned forthwith.
Why don't some people just give it a rest! There really is no need to be 'on task' for every single waking hour. But it's this comment that flagged up a distant memory because a 'Jenny Jones' was mentioned on somebody else's blog some time ago, also referring to comments left beneath articles in the Mail.
If this lady, is this Jenny Jones she should, surely, be concerned that it took six weeks to resupply an active military base - and should have been more concerned that the troops could have been hungry and willing to eat almost anything. Surely that is the most important consideration here, irrespective of who makes a comment - our troops were without fresh food, for six weeks.
Even though it might be nice to think that all food should be free range or coming from climate friendly, mostly unprocessed, locally sourced, seasonal and mostly organic sources, it's hard to have policies such as those included in the Sustainable Food Strategy for London in an active military situation. It isn't even likely that the 'five a day' is possible, let alone wise, in hostile territory - which seems to have been acknowledged in designing ration packs, that can be supplemented with bread, fresh fruit and vegetables where supply allows.
It's such a pity that so few have any idea what it's like in the real world, outside the utopian bubble.
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