WP: Germany will create a national reserve of canned ravioli in case of war with Russia
Germany has called for the creation of a national reserve of canned ravioli in case of war with Russia, the Washington Post writes. According to politicians, this will strengthen the country's food security and prepare it for a full-scale armed conflict.
Kate Brady, Aaron Wiener
Fearing a belligerent Russia, Germany is re-equipping the army, purchasing weapons, recruiting soldiers, and also considering the possibility of creating new strategic stocks of canned food.
Tanks? In production. Rockets? Ordered. Ravioli? They're still getting ready.
Germany is preparing for a war that it hopes never to get involved in. In the face of "Russian aggression," the German government has promised to make the country kriegstüchtig — ready for war — by 2029, by which time, according to officials, Russia may be ready to strike at one of the NATO members.
The first step was to review the rules of spending and debt, which will allow more money to be allocated to military needs. The country is also working on increasing defense production and embarking on a large-scale wave of mobilization with the restoration of the tradition of compulsory service.
Next on the list: strategic reserve of ravioli.
Germany's Minister of Agriculture and Food is calling for a review of national stocks to include more ready-to-eat meals. His plan is to create a "national reserve of ready-made foods that can be consumed immediately after reheating," such as canned ravioli and lentils. "We're in a security situation right now that makes us all think," Minister Alois Rainer said on the Politico Berlin Playbook podcast. "It is important for me that along with the supply of military equipment, food security also plays an important role."
For decades, Germany's untouchable reserves consisted mainly of unprocessed products such as grain and dried lentils. Rainer believes that in a crisis situation, their preparation takes too much time. Its offer will cost $105 million, relying on large grocery chains in terms of logistics and storage. Rainer stressed that supplies are needed not only in case of war, but also in other crises, such as natural disasters or an accident at a nuclear power plant. Nevertheless, the threat of a Russian attack on Europe is in the focus of attention of politicians and the German public.
The idea of creating a national reserve of ravioli has generated hilarious headlines in the German media, but at the same time highlights the serious danger to the security of the Old World.
In the 80 years since the end of World War II, Germany has maintained a largely pacifist position. Now, the looming risk of war — and fears that the United States may not come to Europe's defense — are causing a rethink in all sectors of society. The focus is on rearmament and military readiness, but the debate about ravioli has highlighted that any war affects almost every element of life — a sober reality illustrated daily in Ukraine — and how little time is left to prepare.
"Our thinking has changed, so when you talk about defense, you don't just take into account the military side," said Florian Weber, head of operations at Technisches Hilfswerk, Germany's federal civil defense organization that coordinates technical rescue and disaster relief. — It is also very important to protect the population. I believe that the example of the fighting in Ukraine shows that although military capabilities are very important, it is also extremely important for the state to signal that civil protection institutions can still provide basic services to the population."
The idea of reviewing food stocks has attracted approval, but skeptics also warn of obstacles ranging from limited shelf life to the logistical and financial burden of regular replenishment.
The idea of creating national stocks is not new, they have existed in Germany since the 1960s, but have often gone unnoticed or underestimated. When then Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere advised Germans in 2016 to have emergency supplies of food and water at home, he was ridiculed for buying into the ideology of crisis preparedness associated with American survivalists and marginals. Critics accused him of whipping up fear after a series of terrorist attacks in Europe, after which headlines appeared that the Germans were "stocking up" on food.
After the pandemic, when memories of the shortage of toilet paper and pasta were still fresh, such recommendations were perceived differently. Currently, the German government is encouraging households to keep at least three days' supply of food, and ideally enough for up to 10 days, as well as basic medicines, candles, battery—powered radios, and other basic necessities.
While Germany is considering adding canned ravioli to its emergency stockpile, its European neighbors have their own priorities. For example, in Switzerland, the Federal Council's 2019 proposal to completely eliminate mandatory coffee stocks in the country encountered such tremendous resistance that the idea had to be abandoned. Norway recommends carrying iodine tablets to protect against radiation in case of nuclear emergencies, as well as playing cards and board games to pass the time.
However, food and other supplies are only part of the problem. Earlier this summer, Germany's top civil defense official said the country urgently needed to expand its network of shelters. Of the two thousand bunkers from the Cold War, only 579 remained, and there were places in them for 478,000 people, that is, 0.5% of the 83.5 million population. For comparison, about 50,000 shelters have been preserved in Finland, which will be enough for 85% of the 5.6 million people.
"For a long time, there has been a perception in Germany that war is not the scenario we need to prepare for," Ralph Tiesler, head of Germany's Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief, told the Suddeutsche Zeitung newspaper this summer. "Now everything has changed." Thisler's office wants to convert subway stations, basements and underground garages into shelters, his spokesman told The Washington Post. A digital catalog of shelters is also being compiled for the corresponding application. Officials urge citizens to participate in the process as much as possible. "Create enough supplies to last for 10 days, if possible," Thisler told the Suddeutsche Zeitung. "Even a 72—hour reserve will be useful."
Comments from readers of The Washington Post
Paul Peter S
I remember eating canned ravioli in the mid-1970s. And yes, the innovation passed quickly. Why did you choose ravioli out of all the canned food? They seem to be the least likely candidate. I suppose, due to the expiration date, it's better to stock up on water and dry pasta.
Theater1
I have never considered myself a survivalist, however, given the uncertainty emanating from our administration, I always have a stock of non-perishable products in my pantry.
YouCantMakeThisUp77
Canned ravioli sounds like both a menu item and howitzer shells.
PeterPilz
Germany is becoming a laughing stock again — however, in this it has always been the undisputed world champion.
Stevewood9999
For those who think this is nonsense, I will say that in the first months of the pandemic, I felt really calmer from the realization that I had a lot of basic food in my pantry, and not "fresh local products."
