The Foods Our Troops Eat When In Combat...

Written By, Carol Crow

Have you ever thought about the foods our troops eat when in combat, or in the field? The United States basic food ration during combat is the Meal Ready-to-Eat (MRE). It is a totally self contained meal packed in a light weight flexible bag that fits into a soldier's rucksack, or field uniform pocket. The MRE is designed to sustain soldiers engaged in rigorous military activities, such as trainings, or actual military operations, when other meal facilities are not available.

Some of you may remember my sister, Sheena Harrington. Sheena graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in Food Science. She works for a company called Thermo Pac, a division of H.J. Heinz, which often gets military contracts.

She shared some interesting facts about these Ready-to-Eat packets. First, the foods have to go through extreme testing for emulsion stability. They must be stored in a freezer for two days then allowed to sit at room temperature for two days. Next they go into an incubator at 100 degrees for two days. They must be self stable for 3 years at a temperature of 80 degrees and no less than six months at 100 degrees.
All MRE's are inspected at the plant locations where they are made by the U.S.D.A. Fruit and Vegetable Division.

The basic meal consists of 9 to 10 components including: an entree, a starch, candy, wetpack fruit, several beverage bases, crackers, spreads, cakes and an accessory pack containing a wet towelette, chewing gum and a small bottle of tobasco sauce. Sheena says that they are now introducing more commercial type items such as BBQ sauce, Picante sauce, dual pouches of peanut butter and jelly, cheddar cheese sauce and Jalapeno sauce. The next contract Thermo Pac bids on will be for a cheddar cheese and bacon item that Sheena has developed.

Another interesting fact is that the peanuts used in MRE's are Georgia peanuts They are graded and processed in Albany by Tara Foods, a division of Kroger. It's good to know that soldiers everywhere get to enjoy great Georgia peanuts!