FAQ

• HOW DO I PREPARE AN AKTA MEAL?

  Preparing an Akta meal is simple and quick — just add boiling water directly into the pouch, stir thoroughly, close the zip, and wait 10 minutes. The amount of water needed to rehydrate the meal is indicated on the label; in addition to the quantity in ml, the corresponding fill line inside the pouch is also marked. For complete rehydration, make sure to stir carefully, paying attention to the corners and bottom of the pouch so that all the product comes into contact with the water. The Akta pouch retains heat during rehydration, even in cold outdoor conditions.
  
  To prepare an Akta freeze-dried meal, all you need is hot water and a spoon — making Akta meals a practical, fast solution suited to any context, from outdoor adventures to a lunch break at the office.

• CAN I REHYDRATE AN AKTA MEAL WITH COLD WATER?

  If necessary, an Akta freeze-dried meal can be rehydrated using cold water. However, the amount of water and the time required for complete rehydration will change significantly. The taste and texture of the meal may also be affected.

• HOW LONG DO AKTA FREEZE-DRIED MEALS LAST?

  Akta products — in their sealed, intact packaging — keep for up to 3 years from the production date. The exact expiry date is printed on every pack.

  This is one of the key advantages of freeze-drying: by removing all the water from the food, bacteria cannot proliferate and the product remains stable and safe naturally, with no additives and no preservatives. The long shelf life makes Akta products suitable not only for hikes, expeditions and emergency kits, but also for anyone who wants a quality home pantry with zero waste.

• HOW SHOULD I STORE AKTA POUCHES? DO THEY NEED TO GO IN THE FRIDGE?

  Akta pouches require no refrigeration or special storage conditions. Once the pouch is opened, the meal should be consumed immediately after rehydration.

• WHERE ARE AKTA MEALS PRODUCED?

  All Akta products are made in Italy. Every Akta meal is prepared, cooked, freeze-dried and packaged within the same facility. Akta freeze-dried meals are made with fresh, Italian-origin, certified organic ingredients. To guarantee high-quality products, we work exclusively with certified agricultural supply chains and plan our production around the seasonality of ingredients.

  Our recipes — all vegetarian or vegan, inspired by Italian regional cuisine — are developed by our R&D team to provide the caloric intake needed during intense physical effort, naturally, without resorting to artificial ingredients or the addition of high-energy, low-nutrition components (added sugars, saturated fats, etc.). Our goal is to offer a truly wholesome product: in the ingredient list of every Akta product, you will find exactly the same ingredients you would use in your own kitchen. The long shelf life of our products is guaranteed solely by the freeze-drying process, not by the use of additives or preservatives.

• ARE AKTA MEALS ORGANIC?

  Yes. All ingredients used by Akta are of Italian origin and certified organic in accordance with the European Regulation on organic farming (EU Reg. 848/2018). This means that every ingredient is produced without the use of synthetic pesticides, chemical fertilisers, antibiotics or genetically modified organisms. Organic certification is regularly verified and audited by independent third-party certification bodies, which oversee both agricultural producers and transformation processes. When you purchase an Akta product, you have the guarantee that what is written on the label corresponds exactly to what is inside the pack.

• CAN I BUY AKTA FREEZE-DRIED MEALS IN LARGER FORMATS?

  Yes. In addition to the standard format, Akta offers 770 kcal pouches and larger customised formats, available subject to current production capacity.
  To find out which formats are available and for purchasing information, please contact us directly at info@akta.eu

• CAN I HAVE MY OWN RECIPE FREEZE-DRIED BY AKTA?

  Akta freeze-dries only food developed, prepared and tested in-house, in line with the brand's quality standards. Our production process is built around specific recipes and selected raw materials, and is not set up for the processing of third-party products on a regular basis.

  In selected cases, however, we may consider providing a freeze-drying service to external organisations whose projects are compatible with our philosophy and production structure. For more information, please contact us directly at info@akta.eu

• ARE AKTA MEALS SUITABLE FOR HIKING AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES?

  Yes. Akta meals are specifically designed for the outdoors: the pouches are lightweight and vacuum-sealed, ideal for carrying. Preparation is simple and quick — just add boiling water directly into thepouch, stir and wait 10 minutes. Every meal is formulated to provide the calories and protein neededduring physical exertion, with particular attention to digestibility, so you feel satisfied without feelingheavy.

• HOW MUCH DOES AN AKTA MEAL WEIGH?

  An Akta pouch weighs between 124 and 145 grams depending on the recipe — a compact weight that becomes a real advantage when every gram counts.
  
  Freeze-drying removes almost all the water from food, reducing weight by up to 80% compared to the original meal, without affecting calories, nutrients or flavour. The result is a complete, nutritious meal ideal for hiking, mountaineering, trail running and all activities where weight is a determining factor.

• ARE AKTA MEALS SUITABLE FOR EMERGENCY KITS?

  Yes. With a three-year shelf life and vacuum-sealed packaging, Akta meals are perfect for emergency kits and long-term food supplies. Preparation is immediate: just add hot water directly into the pouch and wait 10 minutes. If hot water is not available, rehydration with cold water takes a few hours. In extreme emergency situations, the product can also be consumed directly, without rehydration.

• ARE AKTA MEALS VEGETARIAN, VEGAN OR GLUTEN-FREE?

  All Akta meals are vegetarian. Our catalogue also includes vegan meals and gluten-free* options.

  *Produced in a facility that also handles cereals containing gluten.

• DO AKTA MEALS CONTAIN ALLERGENS?

  Yes. All allergens are clearly indicated in bold in the ingredient list on the label of every product, as required by EU Regulation 1169/2011.

• WHAT IS FREEZE-DRYING?

  Freeze-drying is the most advanced technology for preserving food naturally. It is a process that removes 100% of the water present in a food, making the proliferation of bacteria and mould virtually impossible — with no need for additives or preservatives. This is why freeze-drying is considered a natural preservation method. The water removal process, known as sublimation (the transition of water from a solid to a gaseous state), takes place at low temperatures, meaning the food is not subjected to thermal stress that could damage its structure or reduce its nutritional properties.
  
  Freeze-drying — unlike preservation methods such as hot-air dehydration, freezing or canned food— preserves 95–97% of the nutritional values (vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and proteins) of a food. In terms of nutrients, a freeze-dried meal is comparable to a freshly cooked dish.

• IS FREEZE-DRIED FOOD HEALTHY?

  Yes. Freeze-drying preserves 95–97% of the nutritional values of a food. The vitamins, minerals,antioxidants and proteins in a freeze-dried meal are virtually identical to those of a freshly cooked dish. Long shelf life is guaranteed solely by the technology itself — removing the water from the food makes the proliferation of bacteria and mould virtually impossible, with no need for additives or preservatives.
  
  In addition to being healthy, a freeze-dried meal offers a range of benefits:
  1. Lightweight and portable, making it ideal for outdoor activities and expeditions. The complete removal of water reduces product weight by up to 80%.
  2. High sensory quality: flavour, texture and colour faithful to the freshly cooked food.
  3. Simple and quick preparation: rehydrate the meal by adding hot water in just 10 minutes.

• WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FREEZE-DRIED AND DEHYDRATED FOOD?

  Freeze-drying and dehydration are two different preservation methods. Dehydration is a faster and more cost-effective technology than freeze-drying. It removes water from food through the use of heat — which inevitably alters the nutritional properties of the food and changes its texture, colour and flavour. Dehydrated products are often consumed as they are, resulting in a chewy or crunchy consistency that is far from the original texture of fresh food.

  A freeze-dried product, on the other hand, regains the texture of the original food once rehydrated: the result is a meal virtually indistinguishable from one just cooked. Akta uses exclusively freeze dried products.

• DO FREEZE-DRIED MEALS TASTE LIKE REAL FOOD?

  Yes. One of the main advantages of freeze-drying is that it preserves the flavour of food. Akta meals are cooked like home-made dishes — once rehydrated, they are indistinguishable from a freshly prepared plate. Every aspect — from the aroma to the texture and volume — is identical to a home-cooked meal.

• Stores

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