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72-499: The Meal, Ready-to-Eat ( MRE ) is a self-contained individual United States military ration used by the United States Armed Forces and Department of Defense . It is intended for use by American service members in combat or field conditions where other food is not available. MREs have also been distributed to civilians as humanitarian daily rations during natural disasters and wars . The MRE replaced

144-782: A multitude of rations . In World War I three types of rations came into usage by the U.S. military: the Reserve ration , the Trench ration , and the Emergency ration (also known as the Iron ration ). The first attempt to make an individual ration for issue to soldiers in the field was the "iron ration", first introduced in 1907. It consisted of three three-ounce cakes (made from a concoction of beef bouillon powder and parched and cooked wheat ), three one-ounce bars of sweetened chocolate , and packets of salt and pepper that were issued in

216-514: A 12 pack case of MREs is $ 86.98 (approx. $ 7.25 a meal) to the government, much higher than what is paid to vendors. MREs can be purchased by civilians directly from the contractors who supply MREs to the United States Government. These MREs usually omit the flameless ration heater and have other minor differences (i.e., design of case and bag or type of spoon), but otherwise are often very similar to genuine US Government MREs. In

288-520: A color picture of the prepared entree on it (like civilian pre-made meals) and the food accessories come in commercial packaging. Kosher entrees are marked " Glatt Kosher " in Hebrew and English, while halal entrees are marked " Dhabiha Halal " in Arabic and English. The meals come in cases of 12 that weigh 18 lb (8.2 kg) and have a volume of 1.4 cubic feet (40   L). To keep with dietary laws,

360-477: A dehydrated meal stored in a waterproof canvas pouch. As with the Jungle ration, its expense compared to canned wet rations, as well as the costs of stocking and storing a specialized field ration, led to its limited usage and repeated attempts at discontinuance by Quartermaster Command officials. Early MRE prototypes that involved freeze-dried and dehydrated foods were developed under Abdul Rahman, who later received

432-573: A double ration of four ounces of rum or whiskey; this was extended in 1799 to include troops engaged in fatigue duties . It was discontinued in 1832 and replaced with a ration of coffee and sugar , which was increased in 1836. In 1846, a spirit ration was reinstated for issue to troops engaged in construction or surveying duties; this was discontinued in 1865. During the American Civil War , both armies struggled to keep their soldiers adequately fed. Difficulties with food logistics led to

504-456: A duration of only 12 to 18 months. The Unitized Group Ration (UGR) is a ration much like the MRE, but expanded to feed large groups. It is the successor to the older A-ration , B-ration , and T-ration It comes packed in sealed metal trays that are heated and then opened. The Food Packet, Survival, General Purpose, Improved (FPSGPI) is given to pilots and other servicemembers that may require

576-490: A half years at 27 °C (81 °F), nine months at 38 °C (100 °F), and short durations from −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 is reflective (which may give away a servicemember's position). Each MRE weighs 510 to 740 grams (18 to 26 oz), depending on

648-409: A lower calorie count (an average of 997 kilocalories) for less intensive training environments, such as classroom instruction. It replaces the earlier mess-hall bagged lunches, catered meals or field kitchens for field instruction. The TOTM allows troops to become familiar with the MRE and its contents without providing an excessive amount of calories to troops who will not necessarily burn them. It uses

720-423: A maximum of 21 days (the assumption is that logistics units can provide fresh food rations by then), and have a minimum shelf life of three years (depending on storage conditions). Packaging requirements are strict. MREs must be able to withstand parachute drops from 380 metres (1,250 ft), and non-parachute drops of 30 metres (98 ft). The packaging is required to maintain a minimum shelf life of three and

792-455: A meal designed to be eaten on the go or while operating their aircraft or ground vehicle without the use of utensils, and packaged for use in confined spaces. For service members with strict religious dietary requirements, the military offers the specialized Meal, Religious, Kosher / Halal . These are tailored to provide the same nutritional content, but will not contain offending ingredients. The entrees come in distinct stylized packaging with

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864-441: A nutritionally balanced meal in the field was not adequate. Service members in various geographic regions and combat situations often required different subsets of ingredients for food to be considered palatable over long periods. Catering to individual tastes and preferences would encourage service members to actually consume the whole ration and its nutrition. Most importantly, the use of specialized forces in extreme environments and

936-555: A sealed tin packet that weighed one pound. It was designed for emergency use when the troops were unable to be supplied with food. It was later discontinued by the adoption of the "Reserve Ration", but experience with the Iron Ration went into the development of the emergency D-ration . This ration was issued in the early part of the war to address a problem. Soldiers fighting in the front lines needed to be supplied with their daily rations, but cooked food prepared at field kitchens

1008-490: A shelf life of 3 to 10 months. There is also a special kosher meal certified for Passover requirements. The " Passover Ration" (officially called the Meal, Religious, Kosher for Passover ) contains packages of Matzoh crackers and has beef, chicken (served on the bone), or salmon entrees. Each meal is in its own packet and come 12 packets to a case. For less strictly-observing servicemembers, non-certified "pork-free" menus of

1080-460: A small, extremely portable food ration for emergencies. It contains food bars and a drink mix. Similarly, the Food Packet, Survival, Abandon Ship (FPSAS) and Food Packet, Survival, Aircraft, Life Raft (FPSALR) are fitted into the storage areas on lifeboats . The "Jimmy Dean," a pre-packaged shelf-stable ration containing, among other items, a pre-made Jimmy Dean brand deli-style sandwich,

1152-455: A standard meal. The high-fat (averaging about 52 grams of fat, 5 grams trans fats ) and high-salt content (averaging about 2 grams) are less than ideal for sedentary situations. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, a 77-year-old civilian man with prior congestive heart failure ended up with volume overload from the high sodium content of MREs. The HDR and TOTM account for this nutritional need. Civilian taste-testing of MREs

1224-479: A sterling silver medal bearing the Air Force coat of arms within a wreath of laurel leaves. The ribbon is light blue with 4 gold and 3 dark blue stripes in the center. A silver lapel emblem, miniature medal and AF Form 1166, Award for Meritorious Civilian Service accompanies the award. The emblem with a ruby indicates receipt of more than one meritorious award. Award consists of a certificate and citation signed by

1296-409: A transparent outer plastic bag with commercial markings rather than the MRE's tan plastic bag with standard markings. There are currently 3 different lists of twelve menus, making a total of 36 different meals. Each TOTM ration case is packed with a full menu of 12 assorted meals, weighs about 20 lbs (9 kg), and is 0.95 cubic feet (27 L). The TOTM has a more limited shelf-life than the MRE, with

1368-551: A waste of taxpayer dollars and possible criminal activity." Further, MREs found on eBay are typically older and closer to their expiration date, having been sourced in "neighborhood yard sales" and "Marine base dumpsters". The growth of MREs listed on eBay in 2005 resulted in a government investigation of whether they were intended for Hurricane Katrina victims, and the news media nickname "Meals Ready for eBay." Some cases were being sold from Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida and other Gulf states affected by Katrina. The internal cost of

1440-416: A wet ration with a three-to-ten year shelf life that could be easily shipped, carried in the field, opened and consumed straight out of the package if necessary with no further heat or water. The resulting MRE went into special issue starting in 1981 and standard issue in 1986, using a limited menu of twelve entrées. The MRE has been in continuous development since its introduction. After the introduction of

1512-528: Is March 8 due to the presence of a leap day). The cases are also stamped with the Inspection / Test Date , which is in the same format as the Packing Date (e.g., October 1994 would be rendered as "10/94"). Rations optimally must be kept in a cool, dry place during storage. If the rations are stored at 80° for 3 consecutive years, they would reach the end of their shelf life. They are often inspected by

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1584-553: Is a self-contained, shelf-stable meal developed by U.S. Army Soldier and Biological Chemical Command (SBCCOM)/Natick, Individual Combat Ration Team (ICRT), Combat Feeding Directorate (CFD). MARCs were developed specifically for detainees at Guantanamo Bay, and have since found wider spread use, notably Iraq and Afghanistan. MARC meals are entirely vegetarian as an easy way to prevent conflicts with culturally "prohibited products" (Islam and Judaism forbidding pork, Hindus avoiding beef, etc). They are neither Kosher nor Halal certified. Many of

1656-544: Is also repeated on the individual components in the MREs. The first digit is the last digit of the Year (e.g., 0 could be equal to 2010 or 2020, 1 could be equal to 2001 or 2011, and 9 could be equal to 2009 or 2019). The next 3 digits are equal to the day of the year (i.e., 001 to 366). "1068" could be equal to the 68th day of 2001 or 2011, for example March 9, 2001. "2068" could mean March 8, 2012 or March 9, 2022 (the 68th day of 2012

1728-483: Is generally considered the worst ever. Soldiers serving in Iraq dubbed it the "Vomelet" (a pun with vomit ), both for its appearance and taste. It was discontinued in 2009. The MRE has led to the creation of several similar field rations. Aircrew Build to Order Meal Module (ABOMM) are a special variant consisting of repacking existing MRE food elements into a form that provides military flight crews and tank operators with

1800-422: Is often issued in the field to U.S. servicemen as an alternative to MREs. The term ratfucking ( rat in this case is shorthand for ration ) is a slang term used by U.S. military personnel to describe the targeted pillaging of MREs, which the military officially calls "field stripping". It refers to the process of opening a case of MREs (which are packed 12 in a box), opening up individual MRE packages, removing

1872-620: Is otherwise created and packaged much like MREs; feedback from the Afghanistan campaign led to the interior packing being reinforced to withstand being air-dropped, as the packets sometimes ruptured on impact. The outer bag is tinted a high-visibility red or yellow and has an American flag and a picture of a person eating out of the bag with a spoon. There are usually instructions printed on it in English and one or more local languages as well. The Meal, Alternative Regionally Customized (MARC)

1944-654: Is popular. For example, the YouTuber known as Steve1989MREInfo reviews MREs and other rations from the U.S. or other countries (such as the Individual Meal Pack ), as well as vintage rations like the K-ration for content on YouTube. He gives comprehensive reviews and information about each ration he has. Some of the early MRE main courses were not very palatable , earning them the nicknames "Meals Rejected by Everyone", "Meals Rejected by Ethiopians" (during

2016-851: Is provided to civilian employees within agencies of the federal government of the United States . However, the various agencies' awards are not directly comparable. For example, the US Army Meritorious Civilian Service Award is equivalent to the US military Legion of Merit , while the US Air Force Meritorious Civilian Service Award is equivalent to the lower US military Meritorious Service Medal . Examples of Meritorious Civilian Service Awards include but are not limited to: The Meritorious Civilian Service Award

2088-448: Is the third highest award granted by U.S. Army Commanders (Major General and above, or civilian equivalent). It consists of a medal, lapel button, and citation certificate. Nominees must have established a pattern of excellence, normally demonstrated by the receipt of lower level awards. It is equivalent to the military Legion of Merit. Application submitted through Installation Awards Committee and approved at MAJCOM level. Consists of

2160-549: The 1983–1985 famine in Ethiopia ), or "Meals Rarely Edible". Some individual portions had 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. MREs were sometimes called "Three Lies for the Price of One ... it's not a Meal, it's not Ready, and you can't Eat it." As late as

2232-508: The Meat Ration was changed, removing the dried beef in favor of canned pork and beans , and reducing the bread component. The corned beef allowance was also reduced in size (older rations continued to be issued, however). In 1936, menu planners attempted to introduce more variety by developing an alternate Meat Ration consisting of an "A"-menu (canned corned beef) and a "B"-menu (canned pork and beans). The A and B Reserve or combat ration

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2304-575: The Meritorious Civilian Service Award for his work. Further work was needed to develop a ration that did not require re-hydration (thus not requiring additional preparation time and water). Further effort, led by Dr. Rauno A. Lampi, Chief of Food Systems Equipment Division at the Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center , concentrated on the refinement of the retort pouch to contain

2376-577: The Pacific . The use of canned wet rations continued through the Vietnam War , with the improved MCI. During the Vietnam War, problems with the canned MCI rations become apparent. MCI cans were heavy and bulky; they could not fit easily in a uniform pocket and could even cause injury. The cans could also corrode in the tropical environment and cause the food to spoil. After the food was consumed,

2448-526: The Philippines , the government stopped MREs from being sold in local markets. General contents may include: Many items are fortified with nutrients. In addition, DoD policy requires units to augment MREs with fresh food whenever feasible, especially in training environments. To make MREs more palatable to service members and match ever-changing trends in popular tastes, the military is constantly seeking feedback to adjust MRE menus and ingredients. In

2520-594: The Revolutionary War , consisted of enough food to feed a man for one day, mostly beef , peas , and rice . During the Civil War , the U.S. military moved toward canned goods. Later, self-contained kits were issued as a whole ration and contained canned meat, bread, coffee, sugar and salt. During World War I , canned meats were replaced with lightweight preserved meats (salted or dried) to save weight and allow more rations to be carried by soldiers on foot. At

2592-500: The 2010 deployment to Afghanistan, one veteran in November 2019 characterized MREs (the traditional Thanksgiving meal had been destroyed in an attack, and the standard MRE shipment partially destroyed) as "accursed things". Their low dietary fiber content could cause constipation in some, so they were also known as "Meals Requiring Enemas ", "Meals Refusing to Exit", "Meals Refusing to Excrete", or "Massive Rectal Expulsions". While

2664-540: The D-ration did not change much throughout the war, but the C-ration developed many variations. A- and B-rations were only served at bases or established camps in rear areas as they require cooking. C-rations could be eaten hot or cold and required no special preparation or storage, so these could be served almost anywhere. During the war a new ration for assault troops, the 2,830 calories (11,800 kJ) K-ration ,

2736-650: The MCW, but with different accessory packs. The MLRP is designed for troops who may receive limited or no supply, and weight of the ration is critical. The similar First Strike Ration is along the same lines, but requires no preparation and may be eaten on the go. The Modular Operational Rations Enhancement (MORE) is issued as a supplement to meals for troops in extreme, demanding operational environments such as high-intensity training events. The Tailored Operational Training Meal (TOTM) first entered service in May 2001. It provides

2808-458: The MRE can withstand. Clad in white packaging, it offers a freeze-dried entree designed to be eaten with heated water, the same side ingredients as the standard MRE, and additional drink mixes to encourage additional hydration. The caloric and fat content of the meals is also increased. The MCW replaced the Ration, Cold Weather (RCW). The Meal, Long Range Patrol (LRP) is essentially the same as

2880-495: The MRE, service members often heated the food by boiling them in a canteen cup over a lit fuel source. This was slow, especially in cold weather. It also produced a visible flame that was undesirable at night. Service members strongly desired a more convenient way to heat the food. Between 1988-1989, development and testing was conducted for a new flameless ration heater. In 1990, the Flameless Ration Heater (FRH)

2952-464: The U.S. Army veterinary food personnel and their shelf life may extend beyond the inspection test date. Rations are discarded after five years. MREs have also been distributed to civilians during natural disasters . The National Guard has provided MREs to the public during national disasters, such as Hurricanes Katrina , Ike , Maria and Sandy ; and the 2011 Super Outbreak . The large number of civilians exposed to MREs prompted several jokes during

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3024-565: The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) determined multiple instances where sellers on eBay may have improperly obtained MREs and sold them to the public for private gain. As military MREs are procured at taxpayers' expense, they are intended to be consumed by individuals from authorized organizations and activities. Consequently, "if military MREs are sold to the general public on eBay, then they are clearly not reaching their intended recipients and represent

3096-460: The average fiber content per pack of MRE has improved to an adequate 12 grams. A superstition exists among troops about the Charms candies that come with some menus: they are considered bad luck, especially if actually eaten. In March 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

3168-612: The beginning of World War II , a number of new field rations were introduced, including the Mountain ration and the Jungle ration . Cost-cutting measures by Quartermaster Command officials during the latter part of World War II and the Korean War again saw the predominance of heavy canned C-rations issued to troops, regardless of operating environment or mission. During World War II, over 100 million cans of Spam were sent to

3240-641: The canned Meal, Combat, Individual (MCI) in 1981. Its garrison ration and group ration equivalent is the Unitized Group Ration (UGR), its in-combat and mobile equivalent is the First Strike Ration (FSR), and its long-range and cold weather equivalents are the Long Range Patrol (LRP) and Meal, Cold Weather (MCW) respectively. The first American military ration established by a Congressional Resolution, during

3312-532: The chicken fajita meal in particular was singled out for disdain, rating an average score of 1.3. In 2010, the New York Times reported that a French combat ration  [ fr ] (such as cassoulet with accompaniments of deer pâté and nougat ) could be traded for around five MREs, though by 2014 it was claimed that MRE menus had improved to the point that their worth had reversed. The vegetable cheese omelet MRE, Recipe No. 4, introduced in 2005,

3384-707: The desired items, and leaving the unenticing remainder. United States military ration From the Revolutionary War to the Spanish–American War , the U.S. Army ration, as decreed by the Continental Congress , was the garrison ration, which consisted of meat or salt fish , bread or hardtack , and vegetables . There was also a spirit ration. In 1785, it was set at four ounces of rum , reduced to two ounces of whiskey , brandy , or rum in 1790. In 1794, troops about to enter combat or who were engaged in frontier service could receive

3456-533: The empty cans were difficult to dispose of; the littered cans were sometimes fashioned into booby traps by the enemy. Finally, the MCI rations had an estimated shelf life of 24 months at 70 °F (21 °C), which was found to be inadequate as supply was often interrupted by weather and enemy activity. After repeated experiences with providing prepared rations to soldiers dating from before World War II, Pentagon officials ultimately realized that simply providing

3528-737: The entire meal and thus get full nutritional value. A small randomized controlled trial from 2017 confirms the nutritonal balance of MRE eaten-in-whole using blood tests. The military has experimented with new assault ration prototypes, such as the First Strike Ration and the HOOAH! Bar , designed with elite or specialized forces in mind. Lighter than the typical MRE, they require no preparation and allow service members to eat them while traveling. In July 2009, 6,300 dairy shake packets of varying flavors were recalled due to evidence of Salmonella contamination . Each meal provides about 1,200 calories (5,000  kJ ). They are intended to be eaten for

3600-809: The entree and accessory packets are packed in two separate inner boxes in an outer case and come in kosher or halal only (the two special ration types are never mixed in a shipping case). The original meals were kosher only and came in 4 Beef, 4 Chicken, 2 Salmon, and 2 Gefilte Fish menus. The meals now come in Beef, Lamb, Chicken, Vegetarian, and Pasta dishes. The entrees are a mixture of traditional Middle-Eastern and Southwest-Asian dishes (like Lamb & Vegetable Jalfrezi or Curried Chicken with Basmati Rice , Lentils, and Vegetables ) and Western dishes (like Vegetable Ratatouille , Florentine-style Vegetable Lasagna , or New Orleans Gumbo with Chicken ). Each menu contains an average of 1200   kilocalories and has

3672-670: The flameless heater. Most recently, MREs have been developed using the Dietary Reference Intake , created by the Institute of Medicine (IOM). The IOM indicated service members (who were classified as highly active men between the ages of 18 and 30) typically burn about 4,200  Calories (kcal) a day, but tended to only consume about 2,400 Calories a day during combat, entering a negative energy balance. This imbalance occurs when service members fail to consume full portions of their rations. Although manipulations to

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3744-517: The following list, only main entrees are listed. Vegetarian menus are marked and footnoted on their first appearance. The cases of MREs and their variants usually are marked with the production date in the American fashion: 2-digit Month / 2-digit Day / 4-digit Year (e.g., November 24, 1996 would be rendered as 11/24/1996). This is followed by the Lot Number , a four-digit Julian date code that

3816-419: The food items and distribution of macronutrients to help boost the amount of kilocalories per MRE have been made, more studies are showing many service members still do not meet today's standards of daily consumption, often trading and discarding portions of the ration. Researchers continue to study the habits and eating preferences of service members, making constant changes that encourage service members to eat

3888-561: The form of the C-ration (later the MCI) continued until 1983, when they were replaced by the Meal, Ready-to-Eat (MRE). Created during this era was the T-ration (or "T-rat"), a semi-perishable meal packaged, heated, and served in a tray pack similar to frozen meals . Currently, the following rations are available to troops: The composition of these rations are predetermined in a way to make sure that soldiers are properly fed and equipped with

3960-466: The government has attempted to discourage sellers from selling MREs, auction sites such as eBay have continued to allow auctions of the MREs because the Department of Defense 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

4032-438: The latter part of World War I to feed troops who were away from a garrison or field kitchen. It originally consisted of 12 ounces of fresh bacon or one pound of canned meat known as the Meat Ration , usually corned beef. Additionally, two 8-ounce cans of hard bread or hardtack biscuits, a packet of 1.16 ounces of pre-ground coffee, a packet of 2.4 ounces of granulated sugar, and a packet of 0.16 ounces of salt were issued. There

4104-463: The laxative effect of xylitol sweetener (if excessively consumed) may contribute to a myth that the gum found in MREs contains a laxative , the crackers in the ration pack do contain a higher-than-normal vegetable content to facilitate digestion. In December 2006, comedian Al Franken (on his eighth United Service Organizations tour at the time) joked to troops in Iraq that he had his fifth MRE so far and "none of them had an exit strategy ." By 2015,

4176-433: The menu. Since MREs contain water in the food, they weigh more than freeze-dried meals providing equivalent calories. As a result of earlier unauthorized sales to civilians, the Department of Defense requires that "U.S. Government Property, Commercial Resale is Unlawful" be printed on each case of MREs. The warning is only intended for service members as there are no laws that forbid the resale of MREs by civilians. Although

4248-441: The menus available have a Southeast Asian or Indian style to them (Saag Chole, curried vegetables), but others are simply the equivalent of vegetarian MREs (Cheese Tortellini, Minestrone). In extreme cold temperatures, the packaged wet food in MREs can freeze solid, rendering the food inedible and the heating packet insufficient. The Meal, Cold Weather (MCW) provides a ration similar to the MRE designed for lower temperatures than

4320-589: The necessary nutrients in order to maximize energy levels. There are certain levels of nutrients that are recommended by the Military Nutrition Research Committee. As a baseline, it is recommended that there be at least 2,400 kcal in each ration, in which those rations are constructed of different levels of numerous vitamins and nutrients. The military prioritizes the burn disposal of the waste because, if not taken care of properly, it can lead to more problems. The goal achieved from

4392-536: The necessity of carrying increasingly heavy field loads while on foot during long missions required significantly lighter alternatives to standard canned wet rations. In 1963, the DoD began developing the "Meal, Ready to Eat", a ration that would rely on modern food preparation and packaging technology to create a lighter replacement for the canned MCI. In 1966, this led to the Long Range Patrol, or LRP ration ,

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4464-419: The proper disposal includes the elimination of vermin problems, airborne diseases, and preventing any enemy militaries from obtaining the waste to use as resources for themselves or as intelligence. Meritorious Civilian Service Award The Meritorious Civilian Service Award is commonly the highest award granted by U.S. Army Commanders (Major General and above, or civilian equivalent). The Award and Medal

4536-550: The recent Mardi Gras in New Orleans , with revellers donning clothing made of MRE packets with phrases such as "MRE Antoinette" (referring to Marie Antoinette ; the wife of King Louis XVI ) and "Man Ready to Eat." The use of rations for noncombat environments has been questioned. While the nutritional requirements are suitable for a combat environment where servicemembers will burn many calories and lose much sodium through sweat, it has been provided as emergency food or even as

4608-580: The regular MRE are available. The DLA offers Meal, Ready-to-Eat (MRE), Pork-Free, Individual , which consist of 12 menus selected from the regular roster of 24. The Humanitarian Daily Ration (HDR) is a self-contained Halal meal designed to be given to refugees and other displaced people. It is designed to feed a person for a full day, and the menus are intended to be palatable to many religious and cultural tastes. To meet this goal, no animal products or by-products, no alcohol or alcohol-based products, and minimal dairy products are used in their production. It

4680-535: The site." Therefore, while MREs are not prima facie contraband , the procurement and sale of MREs by military personnel for personal profit is illegal under the Uniform Code of Military Justice Article 108. As a result, MREs found for sale outside reputable vendors often fall into a grey market where the question of how it entered civilian hands (through theft/legitimate means) and/or its quality may be unknown. An investigation conducted in 2006 on behalf of

4752-415: The system includes 24 entrées, and more than 150 additional items. The variety allowed service members to trade them in order to find something palatable for various cultures and geographical regions. The ration originally came in a dark brown outer bag from 1981 to 1995 because it was designed for service in the temperate forests and plains of central Europe. It was replaced in 1996 with a tan outer bag that

4824-501: Was also a separate " tobacco ration" of 0.4 ounces of tobacco and 10 cigarette rolling papers , later replaced by brand-name machine-rolled cigarettes. After the war, there were attempts to improve the ration based on input from the field. In 1922, the Meat Ration was revised, consisting of one pound of meat (usually a combination of dried beef and canned corned beef). This was supplemented by hard chocolate, 14 ounces of hard bread or hardtack biscuits, coffee, and sugar. In 1925,

4896-579: Was better suited for service in the deserts of the Middle East. By 2000, a bean burrito main dish was introduced. In 2006, "Beverage Bags" were introduced to the MRE, as service members have begun to depend more on hydration packs than on 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

4968-501: Was canceled after being superseded in 1938 by the Field Ration, Type C . After 1918, the army ration system went through several revisions, eventually leading to the: A-rations were generally whatever meat and produce could be obtained locally, so there could be great variety from one theatre of operations to the next. B-rations were generally used when there was inadequate refrigeration for perishable A-rations. The composition of

5040-582: Was developed. K-rations were originally intended to be used as short duration rations for only 2–3 days, but cost concerns and later standardization led to its overuse, contributing in some cases to vitamin deficiencies and malnourishment. There were various other special rations developed for specific circumstances, including: Some of these specialized rations were discontinued during the war due to cost concerns, forcing commanders to adopt standardized rations in their place. The K- and D-rations were declared obsolete after World War II, but canned wet rations in

5112-693: Was introduced. Service members activate a chemical reaction with a few ounces of water, which produces an exothermic reaction . An FRH was included with each meal beginning with the MRE XIII in 1993. In an array of field tests and surveys, service members requested more entrée options and larger serving sizes. By 1994, commercial-like graphics were added to make the packets more user-friendly and appealing, while biodegradable materials were introduced for inedible components, such as spoons and napkins. The number of main dishes expanded to 16 by 1996 (including vegetarian options), 20 by 1997 and 24 by 1998. As of 2023,

5184-465: Was sometimes spoiled by gas attacks. The trench ration was the answer. It was a variety of canned meats ( salmon , corned beef , sardines , etc.) that were commercially procured and sealed in a large tin box covered in canvas. It was bulky and heavy and the soldiers began to get weary of the limited menu and it was soon replaced by the Reserve Ration. The reserve ration was first issued during

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