January 27, 2008 Swiss-based company Katadyn began in 1926 when its founder (Professor Georg Alexander Krause) found a way of harnessing the disinfectant qualities of silver and began his pioneering work in portable water purification units. The 80 year old company’s core business is still mobile water sterilization and desalination equipment but over the last decade it has used its dominant global market share and distribution to diversify into a range of other products servicing the special requirements of adventure travelers, campers and the marine industry. Given that its products will be found in the kit of any international relief organization, military Special Opps unit or extreme adventure athlete, it is somewhat of an irony that this company should produce the world’s first cheeseburger in a can.

The canned cheeseburger is sold under one of Katadyn’s best known brands, Trekking-Mahlzeiten, a subsidiary company that develops specialist ready-meals for the outdoor, expedition and extreme athlete markets.

The high tech hamburger has been developed for trekkers and the non-traditional metal wrapping reflects the Trekking-Mahlzeiten company ethos that its speciality meals should be easy to prepare and require only water to do so - simply throw the can into a water container over a fire, give it a minute or two, fish it out, open the lid, and eat. With a shelf life of twelve months without requiring refrigeration, the lightweight snack is the ideal fast food treat for the wilderness.

Trekking-Mahlzeiten offers an array of freeze-dried nourishment, designed so it can be prepared quickly and easily by trekkers, adventurers and expeditionaries using only water and fire. The Trekking-Mahlzeiten product range consists of complete meals, vegetarian meals, soups, vegetables and other diverse nutritional items suitable for everything from breakfast to a high tech chocolate mousse for dessert. Each meal is available in one and two-person servings and the company also offers special sizes and nutritional planning upon request.

In keeping with supplying the essentials in their lightest form, there’s even a red wine that comes in powdered form supplied in single serve pouches for celebrating special moments. When reconstituted, the wine has an alcoholic content of 9.27%, which is lighter than normal bottled wine. A matching mulled wine has also been developed for expeditions in snow and the cold.

Truth be known, the most remarkable of Trekking-Mahlzeiten’s products is not the cheeseburger but Peronin, a complete food in a liquid form, marketed as “fuel for the bloodstream.” Peronin is the food of choice for athletes competing in extreme endurance events (triathlons, marathons, ironman contests, desert races), mountain climbers and adventure seekers.

Unlike regular food, it does not first have to be decomposed in the stomach, but is assimilated directly. Whereas the body will assimilate less than 60 percent of the total calorie intake efficiently in extreme situations (cold, heat, fear and fatigue), Peronin delivers an outstanding 96 percent.

Peronin is quite different from the conventional energy drinks and bars which dominate the consumer market. It consists of medium-chain triglycerides and is assimilated by the body within six minutes.

Peronin is easy to consume during the contest, is readily assimilated by the body, and enters the bloodstream immediately. In addition, in extreme situations, it eliminates the risk of suffering the much-feared fatigue caused by a lack of oxygen in the blood and it minimizes bowel movements.

The world’s first Canned Cheeseburger ensures enjoyable meals in the mountains and other extreme situations. People who take advantage of the vast experience of an expedition food specialist such as Trekking-Mahlzeiten for cooking their outdoor meals will get more out of life: more pleasure, less weight to carry, and more time for other things.