An army marches on its stomach

Food was first canned in the 19th century when Napoleon’s troops struggled with shortage of provisions. In 1800 Napoleon offered a reward of FRF 12 000 for devising a method of preserving food for an army on the move. Napoleon is also said to have coined the quoted phrase “Army marches on stomachs”. After years of experiments Nicolas Appert reported that he had invented a method consisting in tight closing of food in glass jars and heating them up. He was rewarded for making this crucial invention in 1810 and in 1822 the Society for Supporting Domestic Industry conferred on him the honourable title of “a benefactor of mankind” in recognition of his contribution to man’s well-being. In 1810 Peter Durand, an Englishman, used Appert’s technique with respect to glass, ceramic, tin and other metal containers. In recognition of his achievements, King George III granted him the first patent for preserving food in cans.