CBS2C: Dietary requirements of Muslim and Jewish military personnel were long overlooked by the armed forces, forcing many to survive over the years on peanut butter, fruits and vegetables, and cereal. Thanks in large part to two Chicago companies, these observant troops are now having everything from lamb and lentil stew, and cheese tortellini, without feeling a burden on their consciences.

My Own Meals Inc. and J&M Food Products Co. are the U.S. military’s sole suppliers of prepackaged meals that meet Muslim and Jewish dietary standards.

Produced and packaged under the careful eye of Jewish and Muslim inspectors, the kosher and halal Meals Ready to Eat have only been available in the military since the mid-1990s.

Jewish or Muslim personnel make up 0.5 percent of the U.S. military, according to Mary Anne Jackson, president of My Own Meals.

“While the numbers aren’t necessarily big, the demand is changing,” she said. “A new market niche is emerging…………..While packaging takes place at a Deerfield plant, the slaughtering process for the different meals is carried out in different locations around the country. Halal beef is slaughtered in California, kosher beef in Iowa and halal chicken in Georgia.

In order to religiously certify meals, the plant must be cleaned to strict specifications and only certain ingredients can be brought in.

Manufacturing of kosher and halal meals, which takes place in Oregon, is made separately under the supervision of the Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America and the Organization of Orthodox Kashruth Supervision, which is under the direction of Rabbis Aaron and Moshe Soloveichik.