Military ration packs meant for Latvian soldiers turn up for sale online, some past their expiry date
Dry ration packs issued to Latvian soldiers, which are not supposed to be resold, have been found for sale on auction and classifieds platforms, some already expired. The armed forces say unused rations should stay in their possession, not end up in private trade.
The TV programme "Bez Tabu" has found that dry ration packs issued to soldiers of the Latvian National Armed Forces have been showing up for sale online, despite the packaging clearly stating the product is not meant for further distribution.
A viewer alerted the programme to the unusual sales, saying it was not the first time they had noticed military food being traded online. On the auction platform Izsolis.lv, ration packs had been listed for bidding, though that particular auction closed without a winning bid. Similar listings were also found on the classifieds site SS.com.
Expired products
Of particular concern is that some of the food offered for sale had already passed its expiry date a year earlier, in October 2025. This has raised questions both about how such military-issue packs ended up in private hands and whether they can legally be resold at all.
Also found in a foreign shop
"Bez Tabu" also discovered ration packs assembled in Latvia being sold through a foreign online shop that specializes in military food from various countries. There, a single ration set intended for Latvian soldiers was being offered for nearly 30 euros.
Official response
The National Armed Forces explained that ration packs issued to soldiers are meant strictly for service needs. If a soldier does not use their pack, it should remain in the armed forces' possession rather than enter private trade. The Food and Veterinary Service noted that food handling must comply with established requirements, and that responsibility for selling food lies with the seller.
