MRE
From Free net encyclopedia
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 Reconnasance Patrol" (LRRP – pronounced "Lurp") developed by the U.S. Army for Special Forces and U.S. Army Ranger patrol units in Vietnam.
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Requirements
Each meal provides approximately 1200 calories (1200 kcal or 5000 kJ). Contents include: a main course or 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.[1] Foil can be easily punctured, conducts heat and might give away a soldier's position.
Each MRE weighs 13 to 18 oz (380 to 510 g) depending on the menu.
Criticism
Early MREs were notoriously poor in quality, earning them the nicknames "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". Many believe that the gum found in MREs contains a laxative but it does not – the crackers in the ration pack contains a higher than normal vegetable content to facilitate excretion.
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. 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.[2]
MRE contents
- Main course or Entree
- Side dish
- Dessert
- Cracker
- Spread
- Beverage powder
- Coffee
- Utensils
MRE menus
- MRE I (1981) ~ MRE V (1985)
- MRE VI (1986)
- Pork pattie
- Ham & chicken loaf
- Beef pattie
- Beef slices in BBQ sauce
- 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
- MRE VII (1987)
- Pork pattie
- Ham & chicken loaf
- Beef pattie
- Beef slices in BBQ sauce
- 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
- MRE VIII-IX (1988-1989)
- MRE X-XI (1990-1991)
- Pork with rice in BBQ sauce
- Corned beef hash
- Chicken stew
- Omelet with ham
- Spaghetti with meat and sauce
- Chicken a la King
- Beef stew
- Ham slice
- Meatballs, beef and rice, in tomato sauce
- Tuna with noodles
- Chicken and rice
- Escalloped potatoes with ham
- MRE XII (1992)
- Pork with rice in BBQ sauce
- Corned beef hash
- Chicken stew
- Omelet with ham
- Spaghetti with meat and sauce
- Chicken a la King
- Beef stew
- Ham slice
- Meatballs, beef and rice, in tomato sauce
- Tuna with noodles
- Chicken and rice
- Escalloped potatoes with ham
- MRE XIII-XIV (1993-1994)
- Pork with rice in BBQ sauce
- Corned beef hash
- Chicken stew
- Omelet with ham
- Spaghetti with meat and sauce
- Smoky frankfurters
- Beef stew
- Ham slice
- Pork chow mein
- Tuna with noodles
- Chicken and rice
- Escalloped potatoes with ham
- MRE XV (1995)
- Pork with rice in BBQ sauce
- Chili macaroni
- Chicken stew
- Grilled chicken
- Spaghetti with meat and sauce
- Smoky beef frankfurters
- Beef stew
- Ham slice
- Pork chow mein
- Tuna with noodles
- Chicken and rice
- Escalloped potatoes with ham
- MRE XVI (1996)
- Beefsteak
- Tuna with noodles
- Chicken stew
- Ham slice
- Spaghetti with meat & sauce
- Smoky beef frankfurters
- Beef stew
- Chicken with rice
- Pork chow mein
- Chili with macaroni
- Pasta with vegetables in tomato sauce
- Cheese tortellini
- Pork with rice in BBQ sauce
- Chicken parmesan
- Grilled chicken
- Escalloped potatoes with ham
- MRE XVII (1997)
- Beefsteak
- Boneless pork chop with noodles
- Jamaican pork chop with noodles
- Chicken stew
- Ham slice
- Chicken with noodles
- Smoky beef frankfurters
- Pork chow mein
- Chicken with rice
- Beef stew
- Chili with macaroni
- Pasta with vegetables in tomato sauce
- Cheese tortellini
- Pork with rice in BBQ sauce
- Chicken parmesan
- Grilled chicken
- Tuna with noodles
- Beef ravioli
- Turkey breast with gravy & potatoes
- Beef with mushrooms
- Spaghetti with meat sauce
- MRE XVIII (1998)
- Beefsteak
- Boneless pork chop with noodles
- Chicken stew
- Ham slice
- Chicken with noodles
- Grilled chicken
- Pork chow mein
- Chicken with rice
- Beef stew
- Chili and macaroni
- Pasta with vegetables
- Cheese tortellini
- Thai chicken
- Chicken with cavetilli
- Beef frankfurters
- Bean & rice burrito
- Beef ravioli
- Turkey breast with gravy & potatoes
- Beef with mushrooms
- Spaghetti with meat sauce
- Beef teriyaki
- Chicken with salsa
- Meat loaf with gravy
- Pasta with Alfredo sauce
- MRE XIX (1999)
- Beefsteak
- Boneless pork Jamaican
- Beef teriyaki
- Ham slice
- Grilled chicken breast
- Chicken with noodles
- Chicken with salsa
- Chicken with rice
- Beef stew
- Chili and macaroni
- Pasta with vegetables in tomato sauce
- Bean & rice burrito
- Cheese tortellini
- Pasta with vegetables in Alfredo sauce
- Beef frankfurters
- Chicken with Thai sauce
- Beef ravioli
- Turkey breast with gravy & potatoes
- Beef with mushrooms
- Spaghetti with meat sauce
- Chicken stew
- Pork chow mein
- Chicken with cavatelli
- Meat loaf with gravy
- MRE XX (2000)
- Grilled beefsteak
- Boneless pork chop
- Boneless Jamaican pork chop
- Beef teriyaki
- Country captain chicken
- Grilled chicken breast
- Chicken with noodles
- Chicken with salsa
- Chicken and rice
- Beef stew
- Chili and macaroni
- Pasta with vegetables in tomato sauce
- Bean & rice burrito
- Cheese tortellini
- Pasta with vegetables in Alfredo sauce
- Beef frankfurters
- Thai chicken
- Beef ravioli
- Turkey breast with gravy & potatoes
- Beef with mushrooms
- Spaghetti with meat sauce
- Chicken tetrazzini
- Pork chow mein
- Chicken with cavatelli
- Meat loaf with gravy
- MRE XXI (2001)
- Grilled beefsteak
- Boneless pork chop
- Jamaican pork chop with noodles
- Beef ravioli
- Country captain chicken
- Grilled chicken breast
- Chicken with Thai sauce
- Chicken with salsa
- Chicken and rice
- Beef stew
- Chili and macaroni
- Pasta with vegetables
- Bean & rice burrito
- Cheese tortellini
- Pasta with Alfredo sauce
- Beef enchiladas
- Chicken with noodles
- Beef teriyaki
- Turkey breast with gravy & potatoes
- Beef with mushrooms
- Spaghetti with meat sauce
- Chicken tetrazzini
- Jambalaya
- Chicken with cavatelli
- Meat loaf with gravy
- MRE XXII (2002)
- Beefsteak with mushrooms
- Jamaican pork chop with noodles
- Beef ravioli
- Country captain chicken
- Grilled chicken breast
- Oriental chicken with Thai sauce
- Chicken with salsa
- Beef patty
- Beef stew
- Chili and macaroni
- Pasta with vegetables in tomato sauce
- Bean & rice burrito
- Cheese tortellini
- Pasta with vegetables in Alfredo sauce
- Beef enchiladas
- Chicken with noodles
- Beef teriyaki
- Turkey breast with gravy & potatoes
- Beef with mushrooms
- Spaghetti with meat sauce
- Chicken tetrazzini
- Jambalaya
- Chicken with cavatelli
- Meat loaf with gravy
- MRE XXIII (2003)
- Beefsteak with mushroom gravy
- Pork rib
- Beef ravioli
- Country captain chicken
- Grilled chicken breast
- Chicken with Thai sauce
- Chicken with salsa
- Beef patty
- Beef stew
- Chili with macaroni
- Pasta with vegetables
- Black bean & rice burrito
- Cheese tortellini
- Manicotti with vegetables
- Beef enchiladas
- Chicken with noodles
- Beef teriyaki
- Turkey breast pot with gravy
- Roast beef
- Spaghetti with meat sauce
- Chicken tetrazzini
- Jambalaya
- Chicken with cavetelli
- Meatloaf with gravy
- MRE XXIV (2004)
- Beefsteak with mushroom gravy
- Pork rib
- Beef ravioli
- Country captain chicken
- Grilled chicken breast
- Chicken with Thai sauce
- Chicken with salsa
- Beef patty
- Beef stew
- Chili with macaroni
- Pasta with vegetables
- Veggie burger with BBQ sauce
- Cheese tortellini
- Manicotti with vegetables
- Beef enchiladas
- Chicken with noodles
- Beef teriyaki
- Cajun rice, beans & sausage
- Roast beef
- Spaghetti with meat sauce
- Chicken tetrazzini
- Jambalaya
- Chicken with cavetelli
- Meatloaf with gravy
- 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
- MRE XXVI (2006) (Preliminary version)
- Chili with Beans
- BBQ Pork rib
- Beef ravioli
- Cheese & vegetable omelet
- Chicken breast filet
- Chicken fajita
- Chicken with salsa
- Hamburger patty
- Beef stew
- Tuna
- Spicy penne pasta
- 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
- Chili with macaroni
- Jambalaya
- Chicken with cavatelli
- Meatloaf with gravy
- Nasi Goreng Kampong
- Mee Goreng Mamak
- Mee Jawa
- Teh Tarik Halia
- Sup Kambing Pak Mat
MRE Satire
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.