When Hershey Was Hired to Make Chocolate That Didn't Taste Good

Military specifications always make sense on paper, and there's a reason for every request. But even when you adhere to those specifications exactly, unexpected roadblocks or even human nature can throw a wrench into the works. In 1935, the US Army wanted a new kind of food for its soldiers that could be easily transported into battle and sustain them when nothing else was available. Captain Paul Logan worked with Hershey to create a chocolate bar that would be nutritious without taking up space. It had to withstand hot temperatures and last a long time. It couldn't taste all that good, either, so soldiers wouldn't eat them before they were needed.

What they came up with was called Ration D. It was so dense that it could break your teeth if you were to bite into it. It could be dissolved in hot water, or you could could hold it in your mouth for a long time as it dissolved. It was awful. The only fan Ration D had was a lieutenant whose plane crashed in the sea and he was adrift for 47 days. Not that he ever wanted more of it after he came home. Read the story behind Hershey's Ration D at Smithsonian.

(Image credit: U.S. Army Center Of Military History)