Meal, Ready-to-Eat

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"MRE" redirects here. For the academic degree, see Master of Religious Education.
An MRE packet, containing a spaghetti with meat sauce main course.
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 Meal, Combat, Individual rations in 1980 and was the successor to the LRRP ration developed by the U.S. Army for Special Forces and U.S. Army Ranger patrol units in Vietnam.

Contents

[edit] History

The first soldier ration established by a Congressional Resolution during the Revolutionary War consisted of enough food to feed a man for one day, mostly beef, peas, and rice. [1] During the Civil War, the military tended toward canned goods. Later, self-contained kits were issued as a whole ration, and contained canned meat, salt pork, bread, coffee, sugar and salt. During the First World War, canned meats were replaced with preserved meats (salted or dried). The WWII-era saw C-rations issued to troops, and again in the Korean War.

Soon after the end of the war, the inadequacy of the current rations were recognized. It was realized that simply providing a nutritionally balanced meal was not adequate, as servicemembers in different geographic regions and various combat situations would require a different sub-set of ingredients depending on their specific situation, as well as catering better to individual tastes and preferences so that servicemembers would actually eat the whole ration and get the most nutrition. In 1975, the Department of Defense began testing the MRE.

One of the most notable changes was the variety of meals available, which allowed servicemembers from a variety of cultures and geographical regions find something palatable. Also notable was the inclusion of the Flameless Ration Heater (FRH), a water-activated exothermic reaction product that emits heat, allowing a servicemember in the field to enjoy a hot meal.

Since 1993 the MRE has been experiencing continual development. After conducting an array of field tests and surveys, servicemembers requested more entree options and larger serving sizes. By 1994, commercial-like graphics were utilized, making the packets more user friendly, as well as biodegradable components for non-edible components (such as spoons and napkins). By 1998, the number of menus increased from 12 to 24 different entrees, all including a variety of ingredients.

In 2006, "Beverage Bags" were introduced to the MRE, as servicemembers have begun to depend more on CamelBaks or other hydration bladders than canteens, thus denying them the use of the metal canteen cups (shaped to fit in a canteen pouch with the canteen) for mixing powdered beverages. In addition to having measuring marks to indicate levels of liquid for precise measurement, they can be sealed and placed inside the flameless heater.

Most recently, MREs have been developed using the Dietary Reference Intake, created by the Institute of Medicine (IOM). The IOM indicated that servicemembers (who were classified as highly active men between the ages of 18 and 30) typically burn about 4,200 Kilocalories a day, but tended to only consume about 2,400 kcal a day during combat, entering a negative energy balance. This imbalance occurred when servicemembers don't consume full portions of their rations, due to the fact that they are liable to discard some of the contents, and therefore don't receive the fully intended nutritional value.[2] Although manipulations to the food items and distribution of macronutrients in order to help boost the amount of Kilocalories per MRE have been made, more studies are showing that many servicemembers still don't meet today's standards of daily consumption. In light of this data, researchers continue to study the habits and eating preferences of servicemembers to help alleviate this problem.

In addition, the military is currently conducting research and experimenting with new assault ration prototypes, designed with the elite in mind. Lighter than the typical MRE, they require no type of preparation, so that servicemembers can eat them on the go. These rations include items such as fruit bars, dried fruit, meat pockets, a dairy bar, and beef jerky.[3]

Today, servicemembers can choose from up to 24 entrees, and more than 150 additional items. [4]

[edit] Requirements

Each meal provides approximately 1,200 Calories (1,200 kcal or 5,000 kJ). They are intended to be eaten for a maximum of twenty-one days (assuming that logistical units can provide superior rations within that timeframe), and have a shelf life of three years (depending on storage conditions).[5]

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 reflectivity (which may give away a servicemember's position).[6]

Each MRE weighs 380 to 510 g (13 to 18 oz) depending on the menu. Since MREs contain water, they weigh more than freeze-dried meals providing equivalent calories.

[edit] Resale status

Each MRE is labeled:

U.S. Government Property
Commercial Resale is Unlawful

However, there are no specific laws that forbid the resale of MREs [7], and although the government has attempted to discourage sellers from selling MREs[8], auction sites such as eBay have continued to allow auctions of the MREs because the Defense Department has been unable to show them any regulations or laws specifically outlawing the practice. According to a spokesman for eBay, "until a law is passed saying you can't sell these things, we're not going to stop them from being sold on the site"[9]

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."[10] Some cases are being sold from Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida and other Gulf states affected by Katrina. The internal cost of a 12 pack case of MREs is $86.98 (approx. $7.25 a meal) to the government, much higher than what is actually paid to vendors. 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.[10] 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.[11]

That said, MREs can be purchased by civilians directly from the contractors who supply MREs to the U.S. Government. These MREs are very similar to genuine US Government MREs, differing only in minor details (i.e. design of case and bag or type of spoon).

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

General contents may include:

Each menu varies the contents. Many servicemembers develop a taste for certain items, and trading amongst troops for favored items is common, as well as the mixing and heating of ingredients to create new meals. For example, "Ranger Pudding" consists of cocoa and the non-dairy creamer mixed with small amount of water.

Many items are further fortified with nutrients. In addition, DoD policy requires units to augment MREs with fresh food and A-rations whenever feasible, especially in training environments.

[edit] MRE Menus

In an effort to make MREs more palatable to servicemembers and match ever-changing trends in popular tastes, the military is constantly seeking feedback to adjust MRE menus and ingredients. In the following list, only main entrees are listed.



[edit] Criticism

Some of the early MRE main courses were not very palatable, earning them the nicknames "Mr. E" (mystery),[12] "Meals Rejected by Everyone",[13] "Meals, Rarely Edible",[14] "Meals Rejected by the Enemy", "Morsels, Regurgitated, Eviscerated", "Meals Refusing to Excrete", "Meal, Ready to Excrete", and even "Meals Rejected by Ethiopians"[15]. 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".[13] Although quality has improved over the years, many of the nicknames have stuck. MREs were often called "Three Lies for the Price of One" - it's not a Meal, it's not Ready, and you can't Eat it.[16]

Their low dietary fiber content could cause constipation in some so they were also known as "Meals Refusing to Exit" .[17] or massive rectal expulsions. While the myth 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 egestion.

A superstition exists among troops about the Charms candies that come with some menus: they are considered bad luck, especially if actually eaten.[18] Some attribute this to 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".[19]

In March of 2007, The Salt Lake Tribune invited three gourmet chefs to taste test 18 MRE meals. None of the meals rated higher than a 5.7 average on a scale of 1-to-10, and the Chicken Fajita meal, in particular, was singled out for disdain, rating an average score of 1.3. [20][21]

The National Guard has provided MREs to the public during National Disasters such as Hurricane Frances, Hurricane Jeanne, and Hurricane Katrina.

The US Army announced new entrees in a combat feeding demonstration March 6th, 2008. As reported in ArmyTimes; "Among the new MRE items soldiers preferred the buffalo chicken and the corn bread slated for 2009. They also liked the southwest beef and black beans coming out in 2010".

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".

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Jones, Nicole. The Evolution of the MRE. Whole Latte Love. Retrieved on 2008-04-21.
  2. ^ Institute of Medicine, Dietary Reference Intake
  3. ^ Institute of Medicine (U.S.). Committee on Optimization of Nutrient Composition of Military Rations for Short-Term, High-Stress Situations, Nutrient composition of rations for short-term, high-intensity combat operations pg.15-27
  4. ^ MRE Info. Retrieved on 2008-04-20.
  5. ^ Peggy Milhelich (2007-09-13). Grub, chow, mystery meat - combat food 2.0. CNN.com. Retrieved on 2007-09-14.
  6. ^ Food & Beverage Packaging – Market Insights to Packaging Solutions
  7. ^ GAO-06-410R Investigation: Military Meals, Ready-To-Eat Sold on eBay
  8. ^ MREInfo - US Govt. vs. eBay Auctions
  9. ^ eBay sales of military rations scrutinized | Tech News on ZDNet
  10. ^ a b Jordan, Lara Jakes. "U.S. investigates sale of MREs on eBay", USA Today, USA Today, 2005-10-30. Retrieved on 2007-03-01. 
  11. ^ "Investigation: Military Meals, Ready-To-Eat Sold on eBay" (PDF) (2006-02-13). United States Government Accountability Office: 2-3. 
  12. ^ "POGs, Chow and Leave". sixty-six.org (2005-12-21). Retrieved on 2007-02-11.
  13. ^ a b Severson, Kim. "A lot of cooks in the MRE kitchen", San Francisco Chronicle, 2003-04-07, pp. A-20. Retrieved on 2007-02-11. 
  14. ^ McKenna, Tech. Sgt. Pat. "Lean, Mean Fighting Cuisine", Airman Magazine, Air Force News Agency, 1998-04-01. Retrieved on 2007-02-11. 
  15. ^ "Meal, Ready to Eat", cobolhacker.com, 2006-10-03. Retrieved on 2007-02-11. 
  16. ^ Bazelon, Emily; Phillip Carter, Dahlia Lithwick. "What Is Torture? An interactive primer on American interrogation", Slate, 2006-09-27, pp. Taxonomy of Torture: Dietary Manipulation. Retrieved on 2007-02-11. 
  17. ^ "Meal, ready to eat". Retrieved on 2007-02-11. 
  18. ^ Evan Wright (2004). Generation kill: Devil Dogs, Iceman, Captain America, and the new face of American war. New York, NY: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 83. ISBN 0-399-15193-1. 
  19. ^ Al Franken delivers message and entertainment for deployed troops
  20. ^ Word of mouth on Ready-to-Eat (with video) - Salt Lake Tribune
  21. ^ YouTube - Salt Lake chefs rate the MRE

[edit] External links

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