MRE
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An MRE packet, containing a main course or "entrée" of spaghetti with meat sauce. |
Meal, Ready-to-Eat (
MRE) is a self-contained meal in lightweight packaging produced by the
United States of America for its
soldiers in the
battlefield where organized food facilities are not available. They replaced
C-rations in the early
1980s, and were the successor to the so-called "Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol" (LRRP – pronounced "Lurp") developed by the
U.S. Army for
Special Forces and
U.S. Army Ranger patrol units in
Vietnam.
Each meal provides approximately 1200
calories (
1200 kcal or 5000 kJ). Contents include: a main course of
starch,
crackers, a
cheese,
peanut butter or
jelly spread, a
dessert or
snack,
beverages, an accessory packet, a
plastic spoon and a flameless ration heater (
FRH).
Packaging requirements are strict. MREs must be capable of withstanding
parachute drops from
380 m (1250 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 80 °F (27 °C) or nine months at 100 °F (38 °C); additionally, short-term temperature extremes of −60 °F (−51 °C) to 120 °F (49 °C) must be sustainable. New forms of packaging are being considered to better meet these requirements including the use of
zein to replace foil as foil can be easily punctured, conducts heat and might give away a soldier's position.
[http://www.fdp.com/content.php?s=FP/2005/09&p=15]Each MRE weighs 13 to 18 oz (380 to 510 g) depending on the menu.
Early MREs were notoriously poor in quality, earning them the nicknames "Mr. E (mystery)," "Meals Rejected by Everyone," "Meals Rejected by the Enemy," "Materials Resembling Edibles", "Meals Refusing to Excrete", and even "Meals Rejected by
Ethiopians" (in reference to a country that was gripped by
famine at the time). Particularly notorious 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". Although quality has improved over the years, many of the nicknames have stuck.
Their low
dietary fiber content could cause
constipation in some so they were also known as "Meals Refusing to Exit". 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 MRE's) are considered bad luck by the US military in Iraq (especially if actually eaten). 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 your comrades uneasy).
MREs are also provided by the National Guard 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 nickname "Meals Ready for Ebay". Some cases are being sold from Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida and other Gulf states affected by Hurricane 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.[
1]
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An MRE contains a main course, side dish, bread, dessert, and an FRH. |
*
Main course or
Entree* Side dish
* Dessert
* Cracker
* Spread
* Beverage powder
*
Coffee*
Utensils
*MRE I (1981) ~ MRE V (1985)
**
Pork pattie
**
Ham &
chicken loaf
**
Beef pattie
**Beef slices in
BBQ sauce
**Beff 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 filet
**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
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An MRE packet made into a "Hurricane Katrina handbag" |
In aftermath of
Hurricane Katrina, a large number of civilians were exposed to MREs, prompting several jokes during the recent
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.
