Meal, Ready-to-Eat

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An MRE packet, containing a spaghetti with meat sauce main course.

The Meal, Ready-to-Eat, or MRE (pronounced "M-R-E") is a self-contained, individual field ration in lightweight packaging procured by the United States military for its service-members for use in combat or other field conditions where organized food facilities are not available. The MRE replaced C-rations in 1980 and was the successor to the so-called LRRP ration developed by the U.S. Army for Special Forces and U.S. Army Ranger patrol units in Vietnam. The U.S. Army is currently working on the next generation field rations, called the First Strike Ration (FSR) and the Unitized Group Ration-Express (UGR-E).^[1]

1 Requirements
2 MRE contents
3 MRE menus
4 Criticism
5 Alternative uses
6 References
7 See also
8 External links

[edit] Requirements

Each meal provides approximately 1,200 Calories (1,200 kcal or 5,000 kJ). General contents include: a main course high in starch; crackers; a cheese, peanut butter, or jelly spread; a dessert or snack; powdered beverage mix; an accessory packet; a plastic spoon; and a flameless ration heater (FRH). However, not every MRE contains all listed items.

Packaging requirements are strict. MREs must be capable of withstanding parachute drops from 380 m (1,250 feet), and non-parachute drops of 30 m (100 feet). The packaging is required to maintain a minimum shelf life of three and a half years at 27° C (80° F) or nine months at 38° C (100° F); additionally, short-term temperature extremes of -51° C (-60° F) to 49° C (120° F) must be sustainable. New forms of packaging are being considered to better meet these requirements including the use of zein to replace the foil; which can be easily punctured, conducts heat, and might give away a soldier's position.^[2]

Each MRE weighs 380 to 510 g (13 to 18 oz) depending on the menu.

Each MRE is labeled:

U.S. Government Property Commercial Resale is Unlawful

Flameless Ration Heaters are prohibited on commercial airlines unless sealed in the original MRE menu bag, due to the hydrogen fumes yielded by the chemical process of cooking with them.

[edit] MRE contents

An MRE contains a main course, side dish, bread, dessert, and flameless ration heater.

Main course
Side dish
Dessert
Cracker or bread
Spread
Beverage powder
Coffee
Utensils
Accessories (chewing gum, matches, toilet paper...)

[edit] MRE menus

MRE I (1981) ~ MRE V (1985)
- Pork Patty
- Ham & Chicken loaf
- Beef Patty
- Beef slices in BBQ sauce
- Beef and Mushroom
- Beef stew
- Frankfurters with beans
- Turkey diced with gravy
- Beef diced with gravy
- Chicken a la King
- Meatballs & BBQ sauce
- Ham slices
- Beef ground with spiced sauce
- Chicken loaf

MRE XXV (2005)
- Grilled Beefsteak with mushroom gravy
- BBQ Pork rib
- Beef ravioli
- Cheese & vegetable omelet
- Chicken breast fillet
- Chicken fajita
- Chicken with salsa
- Hamburger patty
- Beef stew
- Chili with macaroni
- Penne with vegetables and sausage in spicy tomato sauce
- Veggie burger in BBQ sauce
- Cheese tortellini
- Vegetable Manicotti
- Beef enchiladas
- Chicken with noodles
- Sloppy Joe filling
- Cajun rice with sausage
- Pot roast with vegetables
- Spaghetti with meat sauce
- Chicken Tetrazzini
- Jambalaya
- Chicken with cavatelli
- Meatloaf with gravy

[edit] Criticism

Some of the early MRE main courses were not very palatable, earning them the nicknames "Mr. E" (mystery),^[3] "Meals Rejected by Everyone",^[4] "Meals, Rarely Edible",^[5] "Meals Rejected by the Enemy", "Meals Refusing to Excrete", and even "Meals Rejected by Ethiopians"^[6] in reference to a country that was gripped by famine at the time. Some meals got their own nicknames. For example, the frankfurters, which came sealed in pouches of four, were referred to as "the four fingers of death."^[4] Although quality has improved over the years, many of the nicknames have stuck. MREs were often called "Three Lies for the Price of One"^[7] - it's not a Meal, it's not Ready, and you can't Eat it.

Their low dietary fiber content could cause constipation in some so they were also known as "Meals Refusing to Exit."^[8] While the commonly-held belief that the gum found in MREs contains a laxative is false, the crackers in the ration pack do contain a higher than normal vegetable content to facilitate excretion.

Reportedly, the 'Charms' (colored candies coming with many MREs) are considered bad luck by the U.S. military (especially if actually eaten).^[9] This may be a case of a joking dislike becoming a superstition (i.e. not eating them 'just in case' or because it might make one's comrades uneasy).

In December of 2006 comedian Al Franken (on his 8th USO tour at the time) joked to troops in Iraq that he'd had his fifth MRE so far and "none of them had an exit strategy."^[10]

The National Guard provides MREs to the public during National Disasters such as Hurricane Frances or Hurricane Jeanne, which both made landfall at the same spot within a month's time, and for Hurricane Katrina, in which flooding resulted in the loss of long-term shelter.

The recent growth of MREs listed on eBay (2005) has resulted in a government investigation of whether they were intended for Hurricane Katrina victims, and the news media nickname "Meals Ready for Ebay."^[11] Some cases are being sold from Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida and other Gulf states affected by Katrina. The cost of a 12 pack case of MREs is $86.98 (approx. $7.25 a meal) to the government. Officials from eBay have asked the Pentagon to cite a law that prevents the sale of military issue MREs but have yet to receive an answer.^[11] As a result of earlier unauthorized sales to civilians, the Department of Defense had required that "U.S. Government Property, Commercial Resale is Unlawful" be printed on each case of MREs.^[12]

[edit] Alternative uses

A pastime for troops in the field is to make small explosive devices from the material inside an MRE.^[13] The hydrogen produced from the FRH (flameless ration heater) is captured in the same manner as in a dry ice bomb, causing the expanding hydrogen to eventually rupture the bottle explosively. Most of the leadership frown upon this practice due to the inherent danger of any improvised explosive, especially since the bottle releases flammable hydrogen. "MRE bombs" detonated near campfires or open flames can result in serious burns. In addition, some pranksters drop small pebbles or stones into a bottle, resulting in potentially dangerous shrapnel. Another method of passing time is to put the tabasco sauce that comes in the MRE into the FRH, the effects being similar to tear gas or pepper spray.^[14]

An MRE packet made into a "Hurricane Katrina handbag"

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita in 2005, a large number of civilians were exposed to MREs, prompting several jokes during the recent New Orleans Mardi Gras with revellers donning clothing made of MRE packets with phrases such as "MRE Antoinette" and "Man Ready to Eat". Many Hurricane Katrina handbags have also appeared on eBay.