DLA TROOP SUPPORT HANDBOOK 4155.2

1

SUBSISTENCE

INSPECTION OF COMPOSITE 

OPERATIONAL RATIONS

NOVEMBER 2010

DLA Troop Support

700 ROBBINS AVENUE, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19111
DLA TROOP SUPPORT HANDBOOK 4155.2

2

DLA Troop SupportH 4155.2

DLA Troop Support-FTSA

29 September 2008

FORWORD

(Supplementation is permitted)

This Handbook is an aid to inspectors of composite operational rations. This basic document and 

associated Appendices provide guidelines for sampling, inspecting, classifying defects, and 

determining lot disposition for the various types of composite operational rations.

This Handbook has undergone extensive changes and should be reviewed in its entirety. 

Concurrence of the Military Services is contained in the enclosed letters. Users of this 

publication are encouraged to submit comments and recommended changes to improve the 

publication, through channels, to DLA Troop Support, Attn: DLA Troop Support -FTSA. 

Changes will be coordinated with Military Services and implemented as appropriate.

FOR THE COMMANDER

KATHRYN YONTZ Chief, 

Base Supply and 

Administrative Support Div 

Directorate of Support

DISTRIBUTION 

Special
DLA TROOP SUPPORT HANDBOOK 4155.2

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

PARAGRAPH PAGE

I. References 4

II. Purpose and Scope 4

III. Policy 4

IV. Responsibilities 5

V. Definitions 5

VI. Inspection Facilities and Equipment 7

VII. Serviceability 8

VIII. Types and Scheduling of Inspections 8

IX. Marking and Identification of Inspected Supplies 10

X. Laboratory Analysis 10

XI. Pest Infestation and Laboratory Support 10

XII. Quality History Records 11

APPENDICES (Incorporated as Separate Documents)

A. Appendix A - Inspection of Meal, Ready-to-Eat (MRE) Rations

B. Appendix B - Inspection of Unitized Group Ration (UGR) Heat & Serve (H&S) Modules

C. Appendix C - Inspection of Meal, Cold Weather/Food Packet, Long Range Patrol

(MCW/LRP)

D. Appendix E - Inspection of Food Packet, Survival Aircraft, Liferaft

E. Appendix F - Inspection of Food Packet, Survival, Abandon Ship

F. Appendix G - Inspection of Food Packet, Survival, General Purpose - Improved

G. Appendix H - Inspection of the Humanitarian Daily Rations (HDRs) 

H. Appendix J - Inspection of Unitized Group Ration (UGR) B

I. Appendix K - Inspection of Unitized Group Ration – Express (UGR-E) 

J. Appendix L - Inspection of First Strike Rations (FSRs)
DLA TROOP SUPPORT HANDBOOK 4155.2

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I. REFERENCES.

A. DOD 4140.27-M, Shelf Life Management Manual

B. DLAM 4145.12 / TM 38-400/NAVSUP PUB 572 / AFJMAN 23-210 /

MCO 4450.14, Joint Service Manual (JSM) For Storage and Materials Handling, Section IV, 

Subsistence.

C. AR 30-22, The Army Food Program

D. AR 40-656 / NAVSUPINST 4355.10A / MCO 10110.48, Veterinary Surveillance

Inspection of Subsistence

E. AR 40-657 / NAVSUP 4355.4H / MCO P10110.31H, Veterinary/Medical Food

Safety, Quality Assurance, and Laboratory Service

F. DLAI 4155.2, Quality Assurance Program Instructions for DLA Inventory Control

Points

G. DLAD 4155.2, Quality Assurance Program for the DLA Inventory Control Points

H. DLAM 4140.2, Supply Operations Manual

I. DLAR 4155.37 / AR 702-18 / NAVSUPINST 4410.56A / AFJMAN 23-232 / MCO

4450.13A, Materiel Quality Control Storage Standards

J. TB MED 263, Medical Service, Identification of Inspected Foods

K. DLAI 4145.31, Integrated Stored Product Pest Management.

L. MIL-STD 904B, Detection, Identification, and Prevention of Pest Infestation of

Subsistence

M. Armed Forces Pest Management Board, Technical Guide No. 38 (TG-38), Protecting

Meals, Ready-To-Eat Rations (MREs) and Other Subsistence During Storage

N. DLA Troop Support Manual 4155.6, Subsection 218.1, Destination Inspection

O. DLA Troop Support Manual 4155.6, Subsection 218.2, Entomological Laboratory

Identification

Services

II. PURPOSE & SCOPE. This Handbook provides uniform guidance to all DOD personnel 

responsible for the inspection and technical management of operational rations under the control 

of the Military Services, DLA, and/or civilian organizations.

III. POLICY.

A. Operational rations will be subjected to continual inspections and systemic quality 

evaluations. When quality deficiencies are noted that change the Condition Code of operational 

rations, prompt action will be initiated to identify affected stocks, possible cause of the 

deterioration, and to provide disposition recommendations to the accountable officer/agency.

B. Storage facilities for operational rations will be selected, maintained and inspected in 

accordance with DLA and/or Service regulations as appropriate. Storage facilities will receive 

the same level of attention as the operational rations themselves during inspection.

C. Rations showing physical signs of contamination (e.g., foreign odors, oily cases, etc.)

or suspected to have been exposed to chemical, biological, and/or radioactive contaminants will
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be inspected in accordance with directives of the controlling Service/agency specific to these 

types of situations.

IV. RESPONSIBILITIES.

A. The Supplier Support Division, DLA Troop Support (DLA Troop Support -FTS) is 

responsible for developing, maintaining, and coordinating this Handbook and any proposed 

changes with inspection and food service activities of the Military Services. In addition, the 

Operational Rations Division (DLA Troop Support -FTR) is responsible for providing 

contractual inspection guidance when requested by an inspection activity for warranty 

inspection purposes.

B. Inspection services shall be provided by either the USAF Public Health Services 

or the U.S. Army Veterinary Service as appropriate.

C. Storage and warehousing services necessary to provide adequate labor and 

materials handling to conduct sampling and recouping of operational rations shall be provided 

by the activity having custodial management of the rations.

D. Inventory shall be managed by the Operational Rations Division (DLA Troop 

Support -FTR), or the Ordering Officer; or the Accountable Officer having material 

management responsibility for the rations.

V. DEFINITIONS.

A. Action Number (AN). A number which, when reached or exceeded, indicates 

additional inspection is necessary or indicates a component is defective beyond acceptable limits.

B. Air Force Environmental Health Inspector. Individuals from the U.S. Air Force 

whose duties include the inspection of food to include rations.

C. Army Veterinary Food Inspector (AVI). Individuals from the U.S. Army Veterinary

Services whose duties include the inspection of food to include rations.

D. Contractor's Lot. The collection (grouping) of units of a specific product limited, as 

much as possible, to units of identical characteristics as established by:

1. Stock number

2. Package size

3. Contractor

4. Contract number

5. Date of pack

6. Type of pack

7. Quality and storage history

E. Component. An item in a composite ration. Components have different levels of
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importance/significance to the overall ration primarily based on their caloric value.

F. Composite Ration. An operational ration composed of several different components 

that undergo different rates of deterioration over time and temperature variations.

G. Customer Direct Vendor Deliver (DVD). Delivery of rations directly from the 

ration assembler to the military installation/agency.

H. Date of Pack (DOP). Date on which the product was packaged in the unit or 

primary container. DOP for operational rations is usually the date when components are 

assembled and packed into shipping containers.

I. Defect. An imperfection in component material, workmanship, quality or 

condition which fails to meet established standards. Defects are normally classified 

according to their seriousness (i.e., Major A, Major B, or Minor).

J. Defective. A component with one or more defects.

K. Deterioration. A process of change occurring in a food item which affects 

the product's normal appearance and/or wholesomeness; which will eventually limit its 

serviceability.

L. Grand Lots. An administrative procedure where two or more contractor lots from 

the same assembly contractor are grouped into one grand lot. This can only be accomplished 

when contractor and assembly year are the same and the lots have been stored under similar 

storage history. Samples from grand lots must represent all individual lots proportionally.

M. Grand Lotting. Collecting or grouping two or more lots in order to decrease the 

cost of surveillance inspections by reducing the number of samples destroyed during the 

inspection process.

N. Inspection Level. A factor that determines the relationship between the lot or 

batch size, the sample size, and Acceptable Quality Levels (AQLs).

O. Inspection Test Date (ITD). A date occurring a specified number of months after 

the Date of Pack (DOP). The ITD is related to the estimated shelf life of the composite ration 

under normal storage conditions. It is also used as an indicator for when inspection frequency 

of the composite ration should be increased.

P. Lot (Inspection Lot). A collection of modules, menus, or components from 

which a sample is to be drawn and inspected.

Q. Lot Size. The total number of units of inspection modules, menus, or components 

as appropriate in a lot.
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R. Meal/Menu. A specific quantity of nutritionally balanced food provided one 

person during a scheduled serving period. A combination of meals/menus (breakfast, lunch, 

dinner) constitutes a daily ration.

S. Module. The word module typically means a set of boxes whose combined contents 

yield the components necessary to feed one meal to a given number of personnel. It usually is 

the unit of issue for Unitized Group Rations (UGRs).

T. Operational Ration. A ration used by the military services for field feeding.

U. Perishable Foods. Foods that require refrigeration during transportation or storage.

V. Ration. An allowance of food for the subsistence of one person for one day.

W. Semi-perishable (Shelf Stable) Foods. Foods that do not require refrigeration during 

transportation or storage.

X. Serviceability. The fitness of an item for its intended purpose; generally expressed in 

terms of Condition Codes. For composite operational rations, three factors are essential: 

estimated remaining shelf life; current quality and condition of the item and its components, and 

packaging and packing integrity.

Y. Shelf Life. The total elapsed time from the DOP to the date of issue for immediate 

consumption.

Z. Sublot. A collection of units of a product contained within a lot.

AA. Unfit for Human Consumption. Rations that present a clear potential or actual 

health hazard if consumed, as determined by local medical authority.

BB. Unfit for Intended Use. An item which can no longer be used as originally intended 

because of deterioration or other restricting factors.

VI. INSPECTION FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT.

A. Inspection facilities are normally required at fixed storage locations (i.e., TISA, 

warehouse).

1. Location. A fully enclosed room convenient to the storage facility or location of

the rations being inspected. Entrance shall be restricted to those involved in the inspection 

process. The area should be consistent with the extent of the operation, be heated/air conditioned, 

and be accessible by forklift.

2. Ventilation. Well ventilated and free from dust and odors of all kinds.

3. Lighting. The intensity of light needed for critical appearance examinations
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should be at least 100-foot candles. Florescent lighting shall be restricted to the special daylight 

type.

4. Furnishings.

a. Inspection tables and/or counters should be approximately 36 inches 

high and 30-36 inches wide. The tops should be impervious (e.g., stainless steel. enameled steel, 

or pressure laminated plastic).

b. The sink (preferably three-compartment stainless steel) must have hot 

and cold running water, large enough to accommodate the largest equipment used, and must have 

at least a 1/2 horse power disposal system.

c. Storage cabinets or work counter shelves used for storing equipment 

and supplies should be provided with hinged doors and/or sliding drawers.

5. Automation.

a. Telephone lines with local and long distance capabilities. 

b. Dedicated fax line.

c. Internet access, LAN or Cable access preferred. Dial-up as last resort.

VII. SERVICEABILITY.

A. Serviceability determinations have traditionally been made based on estimated 

remaining shelf life. This approach for composite operational rations is not practical as the sole 

means of determining serviceability. Operational rations are normally assembled into composite 

menus (e.g., MREs) or modules (e.g., UGRs) that contain numerous non-homogeneous products. 

Since components are different; packaged at different times, and deteriorate at different rates, 

condition coding based on shelf life alone is not practical or indicative of the overall 

serviceability of the rations.

B. In accordance with this Handbook, Condition Codes and estimated remaining shelf 

life for composite rations will be based on:

1. The condition of each component evaluated individually.

contained.

2. The importance of each component relative to the ration in which it is

C. Condition Code criteria for each composite ration is contained in the appropriate

Appendices.

VIII. TYPES AND SCHEDULING OF INSPECTIONS.
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A. Receipt Inspection. An inspection upon delivery where a change of Accountable 

Officer occurs. All rations will be inspected at time of receipt or as soon as possible thereafter. 

A complete receipt inspection is required if current (within the last 30 days) inspection

report/document does not accompany the shipment or is not found in the appropriate operational

ration database. If current inspection is verified, a general examination (cursory) will be made 

for transportation damage/obvious defects. Additional information on receipt inspections can be 

found in the appropriate Appendices.

B. In-storage (Surveillance) Inspection. These are inspections performed on a routine 

schedule while the rations are in storage. Perishable operational rations (UGR-A) are not 

designed or intended for long storage periods, however UGR-A’s will be inspected monthly to 

determine product condition once they have reached their ITD. DLA and Service owned semiperishable operational rations should be inspected at six month intervals. Inspection frequency 

should be maintained as long as the ration inspection results do not indicate significant 

degradation, and the rations have not exceeded their serviceable storage life based on the criteria 

in DOD 4140.27-M, and appropriate appendix. The accountable officer may request inspection

at any time. Semi-perishable rations will be inspected:

1. At six month intervals if lot is still in stock, as long as they are still in

Condition Code A.

Code B.

2. At three month intervals, once the rations have been placed in Condition

NOTE: Again, additional information can be found in appropriate appendix regarding

scheduling next inspection due.

C. Warranty Inspection. A detailed inspection conducted within the contractual warranty 

period in accordance with acquisition contract criteria. A warranty inspection is performed at the 

first DOD destination to receive the rations from the assembly contractor (excluding commercial 

contract warehouses). Ideally, warranty inspections will be conducted between five and six 

months of the Date of Pack (DOP). Warranty inspections should not be performed on tray pack 

modules assembled at defense depots. Most Warranty inspections are directed or coordinated 

through Operational Rations Business Unit (DLA Troop Support -FTR).

NOTE: The quality assurance provisions and criteria of this Handbook are not to be interpreted 

as contractual. The acquisition activity will provide lotting procedures, guidance on sampling 

plans, tables of inspection, and other pertinent information needed by the inspection activity. For 

Air Force stocks, inspectors will contact the Air Force Services Agency (HQ AFSVA/SVOHT). 

AFSVA will coordinate requests with DLA Troop Support and the inspection activity.

D. Inspection Prior to Sale or Shipment (Surveillance) Inspection. These are inspections 

performed to detect obvious condition defects and/or damages that have occurred since the last
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scheduled cyclic inspection (e.g., mishandling, water damage, temperature abuse). If scheduled 

inspections are not current or have not been performed, a more detailed inspection should be 

conducted at this time to preclude the movement of damaged/distressed stocks.

E. Special Inspections. A special inspection will be performed when determined

necessary based on routine inspection findings, customer complaints, requests from DLA Troop 

Support or the Military Services, or whenever reasons exist for such an action. Additional 

information can be found in the appropriate appendix. For UGR-A’s, special inspections are 

only requested by DLA Troop Support or the Accountable Officer.

IX. MARKING AND IDENTIFICATION OF INSPECTED SUPPLIES. Ration samples 

that are inspected and returned to storage will be identified as inspection samples in accordance 

with the procedures specified in TB MED 263 (Medical Service, Identification of Inspected 

Foods) or other appropriate means.

X. LABORATORY ANALYSIS.

A. When doubt exists as to the condition of a lot of operational rations and the inspection 

activity determines there is a need for a laboratory examination and/or test, samples will be 

submitted to the DOD Veterinary Food Analysis and Diagnostic Laboratory (FADL) or approved 

Air Force laboratory. Utilization of laboratories in the determination of serviceability is 

encouraged whenever it is deemed necessary by the inspection activity.

B. Laboratory guidance for sample submission is currently available in Handbook or 

doctrine format. Handbook for AVI is maintained by U.S. Army Veterinary Services. Air Force 

handbook/doctrine is maintained by Environmental Health Division.

XI. PEST INFESTATION AND LABORATORY SUPPORT.

A. Infestation, damage, or contamination by insect and/or rodent pests encountered 

during any operational rations inspection procedure will be immediately reported to the Product 

Quality Office (DLA Troop Support -FTSB). DSN: (215) 737-3876 (DSN 444). For Air Force 

stocks, this information will also be reported to AFSVA/SVOHT. In the case of insect 

infestation, the initial notification will be followed up by submission of a DD Form 1222, 

Request for Results of Tests or DA Form 7539, Request For Veterinary Laboratory Testing & 

Food Sample Record (or locally approved laboratory form) filled out and submitted-in 

accordance with DPSC Manual 4155.6, Subsection 218.2.

B. An in-depth facility inspection should be conducted by inspection personnel, 

storage facility manager, and the responsible pest control activity. Appropriate pest control 

actions should be taken, when necessary, using the guidance contained in DLAI 4145.31, 

MIL-STD 904B or applicable Service directives. If the current storage location is not the 

suspected source of infestation, the previous storage facility will be contacted and similar

investigative procedures initiated. If the operational rations in question were received infested 

from a supplier or DLA storage site, contact DLA Troop Support -FTR immediately for 

follow-up action and appropriate recommendations.
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C. Disposition recommendations for infested stocks will be based on MIL-STD 904B or 

applicable Service directives and, when applicable, laboratory identification results. Final 

decisions on the disposition of inspected rations should be made jointly by the inspection activity 

and the owner of the rations. In cases where rations are placed on “Medical Hold”, final 

disposition must be coordinated by the owner of the rations with the local medical authority.

XII. QUALITY HISTORY RECORDS (QHR).

A. Reports (QHRs) will be entered into the appropriate Lotus Notes (LN) inspection 

database. Where these databases are not accessible, DLA Troop Support Form 5117, as 

applicable will be completed and kept at the local level. A copy of the QHR (either LN printout 

or DLA Troop Support Form 5117) will be provided to the Accountable Officer. QHRs will also 

include reports received with a shipment from another location.

B. DLA Troop Support Quality Assurance personnel have access to Lotus Notes 

database information. Electronic transmissions of inspection reports in Lotus Notes are 

acceptable to DLA Troop Support and encouraged. However, if reports on deteriorating stocks 

are not entered into the appropriate database, faxed/mailed copies of less than Condition Code A

stocks must be faxed/mailed to:

DLA Troop Support

ATTN: DLA Troop Support -FTR

or FTSA/B Building 6

700 Robbins Avenue

Philadelphia, PA 19111

FAX: (215) 737-7526 (DSN 444)

C. For stocks arriving without current quality history records, the local supporting 

veterinary activity, MACOM Veterinarian, or Air Force Environmental Health Division should be 

contacted for assistance.

D. Specific distribution of inspection reports may be addressed in the appropriate 

appendix.