Talk:Meal, Ready-to-Eat

Natick Labs
Is it worth mention a specific location where development and improvements are being made?

"Scientists in the Combat Feeding Directorate at the Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center have overcome the obstacles inherent in creating and producing a shelf-stable pizza to be included in the MRE."

https://www.army.mil/article/202192/army_scientists_develop_pizza_mres_slated_for_assembly_march_2018 — Preceding unsigned comment added by InceptedNoggin (talk • contribs) 16:08, 26 April 2019 (UTC)


 * 139.216.153.220 139.216.153.220 (talk) 11:17, 23 March 2024 (UTC)

First Paragraph
"is the intended successor to the lighter LRP ration developed by the United States Army for Special Forces and Ranger patrol units in Vietnam."

Nope. The MRE was NOT supposed to replace the Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol ("L.R.R.P.") Ration, the LRRP Ration was extremely expensive at the time as Freeze Dried. The MRE was only to replace the Meal Combat Individual Ration "C Ration". The LRRP Ration was developed by the U.S. Army and ONLY issued to U.S. Army Special Forces Long Range Reconnaissance Patrols and not the other Special Warfare Forces due to Costs, as not issued to U.S. Army Rangers, U.S.M.C. Force Recon, U.S. Air Force Special Operations Wings, U.S. Navy S.E.A.L.s. Just before the end of the Vietnam War, U.S. Army Special Forces Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol Teams were dumped into the U.S. Army Ranger Battalions, and never got anymore U.S. Army Special Forces Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol Rations. The difference between U.S. Army Special Forces Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol Teams was Training and 4 Man Teams Special Reconnaissance and Special Surveillance Only minimal Direct Combat Capabilities lightly armed 10 pounds (things (L.R.R.P. Rations) were packed into the pockets on the legs and taped with O.D. Green "100 Mile an Hour" tape (O.D. Green Duck Tape)) to 20 pound Rucksack mostly Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol Rations and water 2 to 4 magazines (20 round per) of ammunition (carried in shirt pockets, tiger stripe only had two large slanted shirt pockets) 1 belt of 7.62mm for the M60 (usually not used), wooden handle entrenching tool, 2 collapsible 2 quart canteens in rucksack in waterproof bag (contain canteen leaks). U.S. Army Special Forces L.R.R.P.s using their weapons means they f**ked up and got detected, no "steel pot" helmet, no flack vest, towel around neck, U.S. Army O.D. Green bandage used as bandana, tiger stripe uniform later switched to ERDL uniform. U.S. Army Ranger Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol Teams 12 Men Teams that were easily detected and ambushed or attacked, Heavily Armed M60 machineguns, M79 Grenadiers, sometimes a mortar (heavy base plate, ammunition, tube, sights), 50 pounds to 100 pound Rucksacks, "Steel Pot" Helmet, O.D. Green Flak Vest, 2 to 4 canteens of water, standard O.D. Green Jungle Fatigues after the Vietnam War the U.S. Army Ranger Battalions switched to ERDL Uniforms, U.S. Army Conventional Warfare then switched back to the O.D. Green Fatigues and dumped Surplus ERDL Uniforms on the U.S. Navy that then gave the ERDL Uniforms to their U.S.M.C..

U.S. Army Special Forces do Long Range Reconnaissance Patrols (L.R.R.P.) as Covert Strategic Special Reconnaissance (S.R.) and Covert Strategic Special Surveillance (S.S.).

U.S. Army Rangers do Long Range Patrols (L.R.P.), just like U.S. Army Conventional Warfare Units do Long Range Patrols, as Tactical not Strategic and Overt not Covert. And definitely nothing "Special (Warfare)" about that.

After Vietnam the Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol (L.R.R.P.) Mission of Special Reconnaissance and Special Surveillance was retained by the U.S. Army Rangers as RECONDO. Before the 1990 "First Gulf War" the L.R.R.P. Mission Returned to the U.S. Army Special Forces as LRS-D, due to failures of the U.S. Army Rangers. After this Mission returned to the U.S. Army Special Forces the LRS-D Team Members had more input into Weapons, Equipment, Uniforms, Rations instead of only getting what a U.S. Army Ranger Battalion issued them (M.R.E.s). U.S. Army Special Forces "Long Range Patrol" L.R.P. Rations would be created Decades later. Nakamuradavid (talk) 20:39, 5 September 2017 (UTC)

Ongoing development
"In addition, 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."

Nope. First Strike is a Civilian Commercial Brand Name that makes a Civilian version of the M.R.E. as the actual Company that manufacturers most of the M.R.E. components is Sterling Foods not Civilian M.R.E. First Strike Ration and First Strike is not the name of a U.S. Military Ration.

The Modular Operational Ration Enhancement "M.O.R.E." was created to Supplement the M.R.E.'s "McDonald's (Children's) Happy Meal" Portions disappointing amount of requirements as required by the U.S. Army Special Forces, the M.O.R.E. routinely includes the First Strike Energy Ration Bar, "Trail Mix", Energy Drink Beverage Drink Mix, Beef Jerky or Beef Sticks, Apple Sauce, Crackers and Peanut Butter, caffeine gum. Instead of U.S. Army Special Forces being Issued Two to Three M.R.E. "Happy Meal" Portions per Meal. Most U.S. Army Special Forces still refuse to only be issued a Happy Meal M.R.E. and a M.O.R.E. per meal, and get Issued Two M.R.E.s and a M.O.R.E. per meal (and still end up losing too much weight and muscle mass). M.O.R.E.s are made in different Versions Hot Weather, Cold Weather, High Altitude, each having different contents "Assortments" to attempt to supplement the "Happy Meal" Portions and lack of Energy provided by the M.R.E..

M.O.R.E. http://www.hawaiiarmyweekly.com/2017/04/05/m-o-r-e-ration-should-hopefully-always-be-better/

First Strike Energy Bar usually in M.O.R.E., unfortunately only half the size of Civilian Energy Bar. http://www.mreinfo.com/other-us-rations/current-us-rations/first-strike-ration/first-strike-energy-bars/

Caffine Gum Military Energy Gum (M.E.G.) usually in M.O.R.E. https://www.amazon.com/Military-Energy-Gum-MEG-Specification/dp/B0017O19Q2

M.O.R.E. Modular Operational Ration Enhancement Hot Climate

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKi5AFiqmAs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxsveIugJvo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtQxIKiQZpo

M.O.R.E. Modular Operational Ration Enhancement Cold Climate and High Altitude

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bq8H0F35aK0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyREemJvxZ8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yq4aGEIh2mQ

I was so happy to finally get enough food Two M.R.E.s and one M.O.R.E. per Meal. Nakamuradavid (talk) 21:11, 5 September 2017 (UTC)

A Return to the Past
After the Failures of the Meals Ready to Eat "M.R.E.s" as used by the U.S. Army Special Forces, 2001 just after the 9/11 2001 Attacks before the 2001 First Attempt of the CIA's Operation Neptune Spear to Locate and Capture Osama Bin Laden, U.S. Army Special Forces Teams that would be attached to the CIA SAD and SOG emptied the Local Sporting Goods Stores of all Mountain House Brand Freeze Dried Foods Main Meals (and the Mountain House Freeze Dried Ice Cream...laughing).

The 2001 First Attempt of CIA Operation Neptune Spear failed, as President Clinton's 1993 to 2001 Destruction of the U.S. Defense no longer funded U.S. Local Intelligence Assets Worldwide, there were no longer any U.S. Funded Local Afghan Intelligence Assets to assist us to get to safe location, evade the Millions of Afghan Taliban, covertly locate Osama Bin Laden. The Mission was then changed to Overthrow the Afghan Taliban Government (5 Million Afghan Taliban since 1990), three more Teams of U.S. Army Special Forces were arrived and attached, they brought pallets of M.R.E.s and pallets of Mountain House Freeze Dried Main Courses. We (those of us that had been involved with CIA Operation Cyclone) then found the Millions of Afghans that hated the Afghan Taliban that had fled to the Pamir, Hindu Kush, and Refugee Camps at Pakistan and thru Negotiations the Northern Alliance was created from the Afghan Warlords that were previously killing each other.

(We) The few U.S. Army Special Forces Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol Team Members from the Vietnam War Highly Recommended that the U.S. Army create a U.S. Army Special Forces Ration identical to the Vietnam War U.S. Army Special Forces Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol Ration, as those that also recently trained with the Norwegian Military Special Operations Forces during Winter Warfare Exercises observed that the Norwegian Winter Warfare Military Ration included a Freeze Dried Main Meal.

In response to the U.S. Army Special Forces Demands the U.S. Army created the Freeze Dried Long Range Patrol (LRP) Ration primarily made by Mountain House. Mountain House was contracted to make different Versions for different Climates Cold Weather (U.S. Army Special Forces Arctic and Winter Warfare), Hot Weather (U.S. Army Special Forces Jungle Warfare and Desert Warfare), High Altitude (U.S. Army Special Forces High Altitude Mountain Warfare at the Pamir and Hindu Kush Afghanistan. Northern Iraq/Southern Turkey).

Freeze Dried, could be eaten without rehydration like cookies. Vietnam War L.R.R.P. Rations usually had Freeze Dried Pork or Beef Patties that were like cookies (crumbly), Freeze Dried Potato Slices that looked like potato chips and eaten like potato chips but when rehydrated expanded into full size 1/4 to 1/2 inch potato slices, freeze dried scrambled eggs with freeze dried ham did not taste like nasty powdered dehydrated eggs. Average Shelf Life over 10 years. Not affected by Hot and Cold.

Reconstituted, Heavily Processed Foods, Man Made Foods, like Meals Ready to Eat M.R.E.s, especially the artificial pork products like bacon bits. Average Shelf Life 1 to 5 years (only if inspected by U.S. Army Veterinary Corps every year). Severely affected by Hot and Cold.

Dehydrated, must be boiled or soaked for long periods of time, just like dehydrated noodles like pasta or dried beans (soak overnight or high heat boil over 15 minutes). Average Shelf Life less than 2 years. Not affected by Hot and Cold, must have silica gel packets.

Nakamuradavid (talk) 21:11, 5 September 2017 (UTC)

Nitrite and microflora content in RTE food....???
--222.64.22.16 (talk) 09:26, 24 February 2010 (UTC)
 * http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&q=allintitle%3A+RTE+nitrite&btnG=Search&as_sdt=2000&as_ylo=&as_vis=0
 * http://scholar.google.com/scholar?as_q=ready+to+eat+nitrite&num=10&btnG=Search+Scholar&as_epq=&as_oq=&as_eq=&as_occt=title&as_sauthors=&as_publication=&as_ylo=&as_yhi=&as_sdt=1.&as_sdtp=on&as_sdts=5&hl=en
 * http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&q=RTE+nitrite&btnG=Search&as_sdt=2000&as_ylo=&as_vis=0
 * http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&q=ready+to+eat+nitrite&btnG=Search&as_sdt=2000&as_ylo=&as_vis=0
 * nitrite specs for Kraft and other brand RTE foods....???
 * http://www.walmart.com/ip/Kraft-Philadelphia-Regular-Spinach-Artichoke-Cream-Cheese-Spread-8-oz/12166248#ProductDetail
 * http://www.walmart.com/ip/Fresh-Mixers-Chicken-Cacciatore-Microwave-Meal/13448755#Product+Details
 * http://www.walmart.com/ip/Stouffer-s-Lean-Cuisine-Cafe-Classics-Beef-Mushrooms-In-Burgundy-Wine-Sauce-W-Broccoli-Steak-Tips-Portabello-7.5-oz/10804810
 * http://www.mccainhealthychoice.com.au/Products/Product.aspx?ProductID=09518&Category=11
 * http://www.kraftrecipes.com/Products/ProductInfoDisplay.aspx?SiteId=1&Product=4470002410
 * http://www.walmart.com/ip/Stouffers-Lemon-Pepper-Fish-With-Rice-Broccoli-Red-Peppers-In-A-Lemon-Herb-Sauce-No-Preservatives-Leancuisine-Caf-Classics-9-oz/10804829
 * http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&q=allintitle%3A+ready+to+eat+microflora&btnG=Search&as_sdt=2000&as_ylo=&as_vis=0


 * Do any of these actually relate to MREs? They look like commercial food.  bahamut0013  words deeds 21:14, 24 February 2010 (UTC)

They do relate to MREs because the U.S. Military decided to cheap out and use existing Civilian Commercial Food Corporations instead of creating new processes. The same occurred with the U.S. Military's Meal Combat Individual "C Ration", example the "C Ration" Spaghetti and Meatballs mostly made by Chef Boyardee. You find out about these kinds of things when they still had the U.S. Military Officer Training With Industry (T.W.I) Program and actually see a lot of the U.S. Civilian Labor Intensive U.S. Military Defense Industrial Complex, that employs about a 100 Million "Middle Class" U.S. Civilians.Nakamuradavid (talk) 19:49, 5 September 2017 (UTC)

Info about the topic of meal sanitization
--124.78.215.31 (talk) 07:46, 20 March 2010 (UTC) --124.78.215.31 (talk) 07:48, 20 March 2010 (UTC) --124.78.215.31 (talk) 07:35, 20 March 2010 (UTC) --124.78.215.31 (talk) 08:00, 20 March 2010 (UTC)
 * http://scholar.google.com/scholar?um=1&hl=en&newwindow=1&q=allintitle%3A%20meal%20sanitation&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=ws
 * http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&q=allintitle%3A+meal+sanitization&btnG=Search&as_sdt=2000&as_ylo=&as_vis=0
 * http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&newwindow=1&q=allintitle%3A+ready+to+eat+sanitation&btnG=Search&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=
 * http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&newwindow=1&q=allintitle%3A+ready+to+eat+sanitization&btnG=Search&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=
 * http://scholar.google.com/scholar?as_q=radiation+sanitation+food&num=10&btnG=Search+Scholar&as_epq=&as_oq=&as_eq=&as_occt=title&as_sauthors=&as_publication=&as_ylo=&as_yhi=&as_sdt=1.&as_sdtp=on&as_sdts=5&hl=en
 * http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=allintitle%3A%20radiation%20sanitation%20meal&sa=N&tab=sw
 * http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&q=allintitle%3A%20radiation%20sanitation%20meal&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=ws
 * http://scholar.google.com/scholar?as_q=meal+radiation&num=10&btnG=Search+Scholar&as_epq=&as_oq=&as_eq=&as_occt=title&as_sauthors=&as_publication=&as_ylo=&as_yhi=&as_sdt=1.&as_sdtp=on&as_sdts=5&hl=en
 * It doesn't look like any of these actually have anything to do with MREs.  bahamut0013  words deeds 10:36, 21 March 2010 (UTC)

Why not just market them commercially?
Self-explanatory question, really. If the US government is having a 'problem' with people selling these things on eBay, obviously there must be a market out there for them, so instead of making up BS laws claiming it's illegal to sell them on, why doesn't the government, or whichever firms supply them, simply market them commercially? Lordrosemount (talk) 08:17, 29 May 2010 (UTC)

Edit for clarification (for the benefit of those to whom it wasn't already obvious): my purpose in asking this question was in order that the answer might be incorporated in the article, which deals extensively with the legal position regarding the items whilst remaining silent on the naturally arising question of why the position should be such as it is. Lordrosemount (talk) 01:46, 25 June 2010 (UTC)


 * Any sort of answer we came up with here would be pure OR, and doesn't seem that "naturally arising" to me. But in any case, I imagine it's the same reason why the government doesn't market most any other military equipment: it buys what it needs; and unlike selling obsolete mess kits or whatever else might wind up in a military surplus store, an MRE that is no longer useful to the military is no good to anyone because it's not safe to eat. Most surplus that is actually still useful is sold to state governments and law enforcement per the Surplus Property Act, not individual consumers.  bahamut0013  words deeds 11:50, 25 June 2010 (UTC)


 * Check the archives: http://www.sopakco.com/ SoPakCo one of the gov't sources for MRE makes commercial versions for hunters, campers, emergency preparedness, lifeboat survival kits, etc. Naaman Brown (talk) 03:19, 23 November 2010 (UTC)
 * And the website itself notes that "MREs ARE ONLY AVAILABLE TO THE U.S. MILITARY." and "MREs are manufactured with products that are government-furnished and are not owned by SOPAKCO Packaging and thus are ONLY FOR THE U.S. MILITARY." The commercial rations that they do sell are not MREs.  bahamut0013  words deeds 12:42, 23 November 2010 (UTC)

The article notes that 12 packs cost the government over $80, but you can buy that many on base for about $50. That should tell you why they frown upon resale to civilians. Zenblend (talk) 07:56, 15 February 2012 (UTC)

'''Those are Restricted Conditional Sales to U.S. Military Personnel (aka U.S. Government) Only, of Near Expiration Date M.R.E.s the U.S. Government instead of losing all of the $80 gets back $50. The Near Expiration Date M.R.E.s can be have been extended after Examinations and Testing by the U.S. Army's Veterinarian Corps, same as was done before with the Meal Combat Individual "C Ration". If you sell to Civilians and something happens that means Lawsuit, Restricted Conditional Sales to U.S. Military means no possibility of Lawsuit. There is also the fact that the Civilian Manufacturers do not want a Civil Lawsuit because in most cases M.R.E.s have a higher risk than "canned goods" of bacterial pathogenic contamination, reason why the U.S. Army's Veterinary Corps must take samples and do Microbiological Laboratory Tests of new M.R.E.s and tests of the M.R.E.s each year after being received by Units, U.S. Civilians are not going to do that.''' Nakamuradavid (talk) 19:59, 5 September 2017 (UTC)


 * Why ban the resale of military MREs? For the same reason it's unlawful to sell any stolen property. MREs issued by the military are government property and are intended for necessary consumption in the field. MREs serve a function: keeping servicemen fed. When people steal or even just hoard them and sell them on, they're profiting at the government's expense. The military services then have to use more of their overall budget purchasing more MREs or other meals (because you can't not feed the troops), which means that budgets for other areas are of course reduced, ultimately causing shortages and problems in those areas. The problem with MREs, as opposed to much other government property issued to troops, is that they are not expected to be returned like other equipment that is signed out with the serviceman responsible for maintenance and return; they are intended to be consumed and disposed of. This means it's harder to track when people are irresponsible or dishonest with their usage.


 * The problem with MREs for the civilian market isn't availability but cost. MREs are expensive to make. A surplus store buying MREs (or equivalents) legally would have to pay a steep price and would have a difficult time selling them on at a decent profit because they'd be too expensive, which reduces demand. However, if (for example) an unscrupulous logistics soldier brings in a case that "fell off the back of a truck," that soldier has no financial costs to recover and can sell them at a much cheaper price, allowing him to make a quick dishonest buck (or fifty) and letting the surplus store sell a wanted product at a more palatable price to his customers, while the military pays the price. As a common practice, it adds up pretty fast, leading to thousands of dollars spent to no military advantage. Civilian retailers likely aren't too discerning, either; they won't know (or care) whether the MREs they just bought are from a soldier who simply saved up from field exercises or someone who ripped off a package that was supposed to be deployed to troops that needed it.


 * Civilian resale is thus discouraged to save unnecessary costs and deter misappropriation and fraud. The military wants servicemen to see their MREs and think, "This is government property distributed to me to serve a function, not a handout for me to make money on." They also want retailers to be disinclined to sell their stolen MREs, because that will deter people from stealing and hoarding MREs to profit on. As to why there aren't specific laws against the resale of MREs, 1) they would be superfluous as most (if not all) of the activities surrounding the unauthorized acquisition and selling of military MREs (and other government property) are already illegal, and 2) lawmakers are disinclined to create laws that have complicated enforcement issues (e.g. the ongoing controversies surrounding media piracy and law enforcement). Milhisfan (talk) 09:19, 23 May 2012 (UTC)

new pic
All the pictures on this page are outdated. I just ate one yesterday and although the physical passage looks the same, the writing on it has changed enough to update the pictures. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 98.164.209.47 (talk) 23:36, 20 March 2011 (UTC)

Untitled
There seems no mention of the Omelette with grits meal. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.237.112.218 (talk) 22:57, 31 May 2013 (UTC)

Photo of what's inside?
Out of the ten photos, none show the contents. Unless I'm missing something, I think a picture of what's inside is essential to illustrate the article. BoppreH (talk) 23:34, 16 August 2012 (UTC) There is a photo of what's inside, it's the 2nd image from the top. It gives you a basic idea, unless you would want a photo of each item. Which I would think is a bit excessive? 98.250.197.61 (talk) 06:06, 2 April 2013 (UTC)

A probable error in the History section
Currently, the History section contains this: "Later, self-contained kits were issued as a whole ration and contained canned meat, pork, bread, coffee, sugar and salt." As pork is a particular variety of meat, listing it separately looks like a redundancy. As it might be referring to salt pork, or some sort of smoked meat, I'm not about to remove it without checking. If it's redundant, it should be removed; if not, the line should be edited to make this clear.JDZeff (talk) 02:22, 19 December 2013 (UTC)

additional source(s)

 * "MREs get a new kick with caffeinated jerky and Zapplesauce —  fourthords  &#124; =Λ= &#124;  18:02, 26 March 2016 (UTC)

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Images
For something that has been mass-produced since the early 1980s the images are oddly poor - 640px-wide shots of MREs on people's carpets taken in 2006. I have a bunch of MREs and in theory I could photograph them, but is there some kind of esoteric copyright reason why the images are so outdated? -Ashley Pomeroy (talk) 12:01, 9 November 2019 (UTC)


 * It's just that civilians don't come across these often, especially the real non-copycat stuff, besides the big Katrina wave in '06. Shouldn't be any magical reasons here. You can probably get some public domain pics from actual servicemembers these days... Artoria2e5 🌉 09:10, 4 May 2023 (UTC)

List converted to a table sorted by count descending
I just wanted to see what was popular and it looks like the layout is from the original source so I took the data and flipped it into a tabular form. It could probably help someone who wanted to mark the primary ingredient and figure out what is really time-tested and popular.Jawz101 (talk) 23:53, 10 March 2022 (UTC)


 * Well to be fair, they do tend to keep the same stuff at the same numbers. Artoria2e5 🌉 09:05, 4 May 2023 (UTC)