Meal, Ready-to-Eat

TheMeal, Ready-to-Eat(MRE) is a self-contained individualUnited States military rationused by theUnited States Armed ForcesandDepartment of Defense. It is intended for use by Americanservice membersincombator field conditions where other food is not available. MREs have also been distributed to civilians ashumanitarian daily rationsduringnatural disastersandwars.
The MRE replaced the cannedMeal, Combat, Individual(MCI) in 1981.Itsgarrison rationand group ration equivalent is theUnitized Group Ration(UGR), its in-combat and mobile equivalent is theFirst Strike Ration(FSR), and itslong-rangeandcold weatherequivalents are theLong Range Patrol(LRP) andMeal, Cold Weather(MCW) respectively.
The first American military ration established by aCongressionalResolution, during theRevolutionary War, consisted of enough food to feed a man for one day, mostlybeef,peas, andrice.During theCivil 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. DuringWorld 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 the beginning ofWorld War II, a number of new field rations were introduced, including theMountain rationand theJungle ration. Cost-cutting measures byQuartermaster Commandofficials during the latter part of World War II and theKorean Waragain saw the predominance of heavy cannedC-rationsissued to troops, regardless of operating environment or mission.During World War II, over 100 million cans ofSpamwere sent to thePacific.The use of canned wet rations continued through theVietnam 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, the empty cans were difficult to dispose of; the littered cans were sometimes fashioned intobooby trapsby 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,Pentagonofficials ultimately realized that simply providing 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 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, orLRP ration, 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 theMeritorious Civilian Service Awardfor 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 theNatick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center, concentrated on the refinement of theretort pouchto contain 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 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, theFlameless Ration Heater(FRH) was introduced. Service members activate a chemical reaction with a few ounces of water, which produces anexothermic 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 (includingvegetarianoptions), 20 by 1997 and 24 by 1998. As of 2023, 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 was better suited for service in the deserts of the Middle East. By 2000, a beanburritomain dish was introduced.In 2006, "Beverage Bags" were introduced to the MRE, as service members have begun to depend more onhydration packsthan oncanteens, 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 theDietary Reference Intake, created by theInstitute 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 4,200Calories(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 the food items and distribution ofmacronutrientsto 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 the entire meal and thus get full nutritional value.A smallrandomized controlled trialfrom 2017 confirms the nutritional balance of MRE eaten-in-whole using blood tests.
The military has experimented with new assault ration prototypes, such as theFirst Strike Rationand theHOOAH! 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, 6,300dairy shakepackets of varying flavors wererecalleddue to evidence ofSalmonellacontamination.
Each meal provides about 1,200kilocalories(5,000kJ).They are intended to be eaten for 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 withstandparachutedrops 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 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 ofzeinto 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 the menu.Since MREs contain water in the food, they weigh more thanfreeze-driedmeals 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 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 provide 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."Therefore, while MREs are notprima faciecontraband, the procurement and sale of MREs by military personnel for personal profit is illegal under theUniform Code of Military JusticeArticle 108.As a result, MREs found for sale outside reputable vendors often fall into agrey marketwhere 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 the U.S.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 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 oneBayin 2005 resulted in a government investigation of whether they were intended forHurricane Katrinavictims, 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 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 U.S. 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 U.S. government MREs.
In thePhilippines, the government stopped MREs from being sold in local markets in 2013.
The general contents of an MRE typically include:
Many items are fortified with nutrients. In addition,DoDpolicy 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 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 theLot Number, a four-digitJulian date codethat 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 is March 8 due to the presence of a leap day).
The cases are also stamped with theInspection / 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 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 duringnatural disasters.TheNational Guardhas provided MREs to the public during national disasters, such as HurricanesKatrina,Ike,MariaandSandy; and the2011 Super Outbreak. The large number of civilians exposed to MREs prompted several jokes during the recentMardi Gras in New Orleans, with revellers donning clothing made of MRE packets with phrases such as "MRE Antoinette" (referring toMarie Antoinette; the wife ofKing 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 a standard meal.The high-fat (averaging about 52 grams of fat, 5 gramstrans 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 congestiveheart failureended up withvolume overloadfrom the high sodium content of MREs.TheHDRand TOTM account for this nutritional need.
Civilian taste-testing of MREs is popular. For example, theYouTuberknown asSteve1989MREInforeviews MREs and other rations from the U.S. or other countries (such as theIndividual Meal Pack), as well as vintage rations like theK-rationfor content on YouTube. He gives comprehensive reviews and information about each ration he has.
Some of the early MRE main courses were not verypalatable, earning them the nicknames "Meals Rejected by Everyone","Meals Rejected by Ethiopians" (during the1983–1985 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 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 lowdietary fibercontent could causeconstipationin some, so they were also known as "Meals RequiringEnemas", "Meals Refusing to Exit","Meals Refusing to Excrete", or "Massive Rectal Expulsions". While the laxative effect ofxylitolsweetener (if excessively consumed) may contribute to a myth that the gum found in MREs contains alaxative, the crackers in the ration pack do contain a higher-than-normal vegetable content to facilitate digestion. In December 2006, comedianAl Franken(on his eighthUnited Service Organizationstour at the time) joked to troops in Iraq that he had his fifth MRE so far and "none of them had anexit strategy."By 2015, the average fiber content per pack of MRE has improved to an adequate 12 grams.
Asuperstitionexists among troops about theCharmscandies that come with some menus: they are considered bad luck, especially if actually eaten.
In March 2007,The Salt Lake Tribuneinvited 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.In 2010, theNew York Timesreported that aFrench combat ration[fr](such ascassouletwith accompaniments ofdeer pâtéandnougat) 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, is generally considered the worst ever. Soldiers serving in Iraq dubbed it the "Vomelet" (a pun withvomit), 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 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 specializedMeal, 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 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 "DhabihaHalal" 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 (40L). To keep with dietary laws, 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 2Gefilte Fishmenus. The meals now come in Beef, Lamb, Chicken, Vegetarian, and Pasta dishes. The entrees are a mixture of traditional Middle-Eastern and South Asian dishes (likeLamb & VegetableJalfreziorCurried ChickenwithBasmati Rice, Lentils, and Vegetables) and Western dishes (likeVegetableRatatouille,Florentine-style Vegetable Lasagna, orNew Orleans Gumbo with Chicken). Each menu contains an average of 1200kilocalories and has a shelf life of 3 to 10 months.
There is also a special kosher meal certified forPassoverrequirements.The "PassoverRation" (officially called theMeal, Religious, Kosher for Passover) contains packages ofMatzoh crackersand 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 the regular MRE are available. The DLA offersMeal, Ready-to-Eat (MRE), Pork-Free, Individual, which consist of 12 menus selected from the regular roster of 24.
TheHumanitarian Daily Ration(HDR) is a self-contained Halal meal designed to be given torefugeesand 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 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.
TheMeal, Alternative Regionally Customized(MARC) 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 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. TheMeal, Cold Weather(MCW) provides a ration similar to the MRE designed for lower temperatures than 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 additionaldrink mixesto encourage additional hydration. The caloric and fat content of the meals is also increased.The MCW replaced theRation, Cold Weather(RCW).
TheMeal, Long Range Patrol(LRP) is essentially the same as 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 similarFirst Strike Rationis along the same lines, but requires no preparation and may be eaten on the go.
TheModular Operational Rations Enhancement(MORE) is issued as a supplement to meals for troops in extreme, demanding operational environments such as high-intensity training events.
TheTailored Operational Training Meal(TOTM) first entered service in May 2001. It provides 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 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 a duration of only 12 to 18 months.
TheUnitized Group Ration (UGR)is a ration much like the MRE, but expanded to feed large groups. It is the successor to the olderA-ration,B-ration, and T-ration It comes packed in sealed metal trays that are heated and then opened.
TheFood Packet, Survival, General Purpose, Improved(FPSGPI) is given to pilots and other servicemembers that may require a small, extremely portable food ration for emergencies. It contains food bars and a drink mix.Similarly, theFood Packet, Survival, Abandon Ship(FPSAS) andFood Packet, Survival, Aircraft, Life Raft(FPSALR) are fitted into the storage areas onlifeboats.
The "Jimmy Dean," a pre-packaged shelf-stable ration containing, among other items, a pre-madeJimmy Deanbrand deli-style sandwich, is often issued in the field to U.S. servicemen as an alternative to MREs.
The termratfucking(ratin this case is shorthand forration) is a slang term used byU.S. militarypersonnel 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 the desired items, and leaving the unenticing remainder.