Science Fair Project Encyclopedia
MRE
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.
The MRE was adopted as the Department of Defense combat ration in 1975. A large-scale production test began in 1978 with delivery in 1981. MRE I (1981) was the first date of pack.
In 1983, a field evaluation was conducted with the 25th Infantry Division for 34 days. They ate nothing but MREs three times a day. Although troops rated the ration as acceptable, consumption was low - only about 60% of the calories provided were consumed.
Another test in 1986 with the same division resulted in increased consumption and acceptance.
Based on these tests, a significant number of changes were made to MREs starting with the 1988 MREs (MRE XVIII). 9 of the 12 entrées were replaced with new ones and the entree size was changed from 5oz. to 8oz. Commercial candies were added to 4 menus, hot sauce was added to 4 menus, and cold beverage bases were added to all 12 menus.
After further field testing and as a result of early feedback from Operation Desert Storm, even more changes were made starting with MRE X: commercial freeze-dried coffee replaced the old mil-spec spray-dried coffee, hot sauce was added to all 12 menus, wet pack fruit replaced dehydrated fruits, and commercial candy was included in 4 more menus (for a total of 8).
During Operation Desert Storm, MREs were eaten by troops for far longer than they were originally intended. Originally intended for 10 days or less, many troops ate them for 60+ days. As a result, three changes were quickly made to supplement the MREs and enhance their acceptability: shelf-stable bread in an MRE pouch was developed, a high-heat-stable chocolate bar was developed that wouldn't melt in the desert heat (this had been attempted before but the bar had a waxy taste and wasn't widely accepted), and flameless ration heaters were developed as a quick and easy method for troops to heat their entrees.
Over the next few years, more changes took place. A joint panel recommended replacing at least two menus a year to improve acceptability, various entrees were changed, and various other parts (desserts, tea/coffee, etc.) were changed.
In the first quarter of 1994, three major changes were field tested: 1) commercial-like graphics were added (studies showed commerical packaging increased comsumption and acceptance), 2) MRE bags and components were made easier to open, and 3) biodegradeable spoons were added to make MREs more environmentally friendly (the spoons were also longer which made them easier to get to the food). These changes were implemented in MRE XVII.
Later in 1994, they began to study the effects of increasing the number of available menus from 12 to 18 to 24 to overcome menu monotony and to allow MREs to be used for longer periods of time.
In 1996, the menu count was increased to 16. Then in 1997, the menu count was further increased to 20. Finally, in 1998, the menu count was increased to 24, where it remains today (in 2005).
Since MRE XIII (1993 Date-of-Pack [DOP]), 70 new items have been approved as MRE improvements. Fourteen of the least acceptable items were replaced, and the number of menus was increased from 12 to 24. In addition, four vegetarian meals are now included.
Each meal provides approximately 1200 kcal (1200 "Calories"). Contents include: an entree 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 years at 80°F(27°C) or six months at 100°F(38°C); additionally, short-term temperature extremes of -60°F(-51°C) to 120°F(49°C) must be sustainable.
Early MREs were notoriously poor in quality, earning them the nicknames "Meals Rejected by Everyone" "Materials Resembling Edibles" and even "Meals Rejected by Ethiopians" - in reference to a country that was gripped by famine at the time. Although quality has improved, the nicknames have stuck.
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MRE contents
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 VIIII-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 XIV (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 XXIII (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
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