MREInfo News

This article is a little dated (2004) but it’s brand-new to me and is the first comprehensive Kosher MRE review I’ve seen.

From Jews in Green:

Excerpt:

JIG Exclusive: Kosher MRE Taste Test
July 30, 2004

One of the most popular topics among Jews in the military is kashrut and more specifically, kosher rations. Here at Jews in Green, we regularly receive several hits a week from people searching for kosher MREs on Google. I wrote a brief article on kosher MREs as one of the first stories on Jews in Green, but I’ve come to realize that a much more thorough discussion was required.

So the staff here at Jews in Green (with the help of some active duty taste testers) put the two main offerings for kosher MREs to the test. Read the full article to see how they matched up, and details on how you can obtain the meals.

A great deal of work went into arranging kosher rations for the military, so I’m going to take a little time to spotlight the efforts and challenges faced in doing so. If you just want to see the taste test results, click here.

Article contents:
- About the Companies
-The Taste Test
- In Summary
- Ordering Info
- Kashrut Information

Click the article link above for the full review

Information about the new UGR-Es has been around for a while but this is the first time I’ve done any actual reading about them.

From The Army Times:

Feed hot food to 18 soldiers ‘ fast

By Matthew Cox
Staff writer

Army scientists have cooked up a new style of group ration for feeding soldiers on the go.

The Unitized Group Ration-Express modules serve hot meals for up to 18 soldiers without kitchen equipment, cooks, fuel or a power source, said Shari Dangel, a physical scientist for Natick Soldier Center, in a recent press release.

‘The UGR-E borrows technology from the [Meals, Ready-to-Eat] Flameless Ration Heater to heat the food,’ Dangel said. ‘These magnesium-based heaters produce a significant amount of heat with relatively small amounts of raw material. All that is required to start the reaction is mixing salt water with the magnesium.’

Each UGR-E contains four heaters that are 10 times the size of each single MRE heater. With a quick pull of a tab, the meals are ready in up to 45 minutes. The technology most benefits small, remote units operating in austere environments, Dangel said, explaining that prototype UGR-E’s have been sent to both Afghanistan and Iraq.

The first UGR-Es will include three breakfast menus and six lunch/dinner menus.

The four, six-pound polymeric tray packs include an entr’e, vegetable, starch, dessert, plus snacks ‘ like M&Ms, Reese’s Pieces or powdered beverages that soldiers can eat and drink while the food is heating up ‘ as well as dining trays, beverages, eating utensils and serving utensils.

Soldiers that evaluated the UGR-Es have liked that they do not have to rely on drivers to bring them food in insulated containers cooked in field kitchens hours beforehand, she said. ‘They can wait until they are almost ready to eat to start heating the food, then eat it while it’s still hot,’ Dangel said.

There are two types of UGR-Es. The Type I UGR-E requires soldiers to place the four heaters into the heater trays before pulling the tab. With Type II UGR-Es, the heaters are sealed into the heater trays. Soldiers need to pull one tab that will uncover the heaters and then pull a second tab that will release the activator solution.

‘To meet the immediate needs of the services, an accelerated development effort will field the UGR-E initially as Type I, and later the Type II will be transitioned as improvements in the heating system are completed,’ said Peter Lavigne, a chemical engineer at Natick.

‘We’re also investigating other opportunities to improve the concept, to include the use of coated fiber heating trays that are low cost, lightweight and offer improved disposability and recyclability.’

I was just browsing the Heater Meals website and saw they have a new product called HeaterMeals 3. As opposed to their other products (HeaterMeals and HeaterMeals Plus) which are only shelf-stable for 1 year, these new meals are designed to be good for up to 3 years.

As for the contents, these new meals look to be a cross between the entree-only HeaterMeals and the everything-including-a-can-of-drink HeaterMeals Plus. Here’s a full list of the contents:

Here are a couple of pics:

Originally from: http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20070208005544&newsLang=en

Excerpt:

[snip]
The following technology is covered in this research:

- Retort Packaging: In this research service, retort packaging is commonly defined as a flexible pouch/ rigid container for low-acid foods thermally sterilized in a pressure vessel, often called a retort. Food packed in this way is shelf stable at ambient temperature. Thermal sterilization is performed at temperatures greater than 212 degrees.

Market Overview

Retort Packaging Gains in Popularity

One of the major trends in the retort packaging market is the retort pouch that is taking convenience to a whole new level and becoming increasingly popular among food product manufacturers. A growing number of companies are entering this expanding market, posing a strong challenge to manufacturers of other package types. The primary reasons behind report packaging success are that it not only helps create the all-important shelf appeal that food manufacturers seek, but also possesses certain technical properties that keep the food tasty.

Retort packaging is increasingly proving to be a very effective technique for packaging food products that require extended shelf life, as marketers give great importance to this attribute of the product, observes the analyst of this research service. Consumer demand for flexible pouches and plastic containers is rising, due to the growing preference for meals ready to eat (MREs) and semi-cooked food products in an increasingly busy and time-constrained society. Thus, while the market for retort pouches is currently only a niche one, it holds immense potential and opportunities for growth.

Ongoing Innovations in Retort Packaging Open up New Opportunities

It is now clear that packaging in the food and beverage market is no longer a mere cost driver, but is considered a critical component of all branding, merchandising, and promotional strategies. Effective packaging not only helps address the constant struggle for shelf space, but also aids in increasing market share. Thus, companies are always seeking to improve existing packaging methods. This is seen in the retort packaging market as well, where re-closable retort pouches are fast gaining popularity. These pouches feature zippers mainly made of polypropylene to withstand high temperatures and could considerably boost the convenience factor offered by this form of packaging.

The introduction of re-closable retort packaging offers an all-in-one serve, seal and store design that can improve the flavour of the product, reduce storage space, extend the product shelf life, and even reduce production and shipping costs. In a ‘heat and eat’ society that places a great deal of importance on convenience and the ability to control portions as people want, these retort zipper could open up even more opportunities than those offered only by retort packaging technology, says the analyst.

For more information, visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c50056

Originally from: http://www.fcw.com/article97397-01-18-07-Web:

Excerpt:

Marines deployed in Afghanistan are not getting adequate nutrition from the Defense Department’s standard combat ration, Meals Ready to Eat, the Marine Corps Center for Lessons Learned (MCLL) said in its January newsletter.

Marine and Army troops deployed to Afghanistan conduct dismounted operations – meaning they walk instead of ride – in mountainous terrain and MREs do not provide enough nutrition for their mission, the MCCLL newsletter states.

As a result, “many Marines and soldiers lost 20 to 40 pounds of bodyweight during their deployment,” the newsletter states.
[snip…]

Click on the link above for the full story.

In regards to the Department of Defense requiring the use of RFID tags to track MRE shipments:

Originally from: http://www.fcw.com/article97669-02-14-07-Web:

Excerpt:

The Defense Department has issued its final rule for use of radio frequency identification tags by its suppliers, extending how long they can use older tags and mandating the use of tags even on low-value shipments from low-volume suppliers. DOD cited efficiencies gained in the supply chain through RFID use.

DOD said in a Federal Register notice on Feb. 12 that it will allow the use of older RFID Generation 1 tags under all new contracts through March 1. The older tags can also be used on all shipments contracts awarded before May 19, 2006, the date of the RFID interim rule.

RFID Generation 1 tags are unalterable Write-Once tags. The Generation 2 tags, which DOD will move to after March 1, are Write-Once, Read-Many tags that can be written to only once, but read any number of times. Suppliers told DOD that a fast phase out of the Generation 1 tags would leave them with a large inventory of tags purchased at the department’s encouragement.

[snip…]

DOD issued its initial RFID rule in April 2005. It required suppliers of packaged field rations such as Meals Ready to Eat, clothing and individual equipment, tools, tents, and weapons systems repair parts and components to use the tags.

Click on the link above for the full article.

Interesting article on how a potential bird flu pandemic could affect the grocery industry. Of course, I’d extend this to the MRE industry, too.

From: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070219/ap_on_bi_ge/bird_flu_groceries

Grocery industry prepares for bird flu

By TIMBERLY ROSS, Associated Press Writer
Mon Feb 19, 12:07 AM ET

OMAHA, Neb. - Stocking up on food is as simple as a trip to the grocery store, a veritable land of plenty for Americans. But will fresh fruits and vegetables, meat, bread, milk and other household staples still be available if the U.S. is hit with an anticipated bird flu pandemic? If state and federal officials urge people to stay away from public places, like restaurants and fast-food establishments, will they be able to get the groceries they need to prepare food in their homes? ADVERTISEMENT

[snip…]

Unlike other critical infrastructure sectors like water, energy and health care, the food industry isn’t getting much help from state and federal governments when it comes to disaster planning. That puts the burden on individual supermarket chains and wholesalers to deal with a potentially large number of sick workers that could affect store operations and disrupt the food supply.

[snip…]

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates a third of the population could fall ill if the H5N1 strain of the bird flu mutates into a form that spreads easily from person to person. It’s not clear if that will ever happen and no human cases of bird flu have ever been traced to eating properly cooked poultry or eggs.

But if a pandemic emerges, the Department of Homeland Security projects worker absenteeism to reach 40 percent or more over a prolonged period. Hammonds said retail food stores would have to contend with worker shortages and disruptions in the supply chain.

[snip…]

The Food Marketing Institute’s Hammonds said a widespread pandemic will likely cause food consumption to shift away from restaurants and fast-food establishments and toward in-home eating, causing a greater demand for groceries.

“That means stores would need to be prepared for an increase in volume,” he said.

Read the full article here.

I just ran across this story at the Defense Industry Daily. Even though the article is titled “US MRE/Humanitarian Ration Orders, FY 2007″ it’s really not about HDR orders. But it does have a nice re-cap of the regular MRE contract awards:

Jan 19/07: Small business qualifier Sopakco, Inc. in Mullins, SC received a maximum $22.7 million fixed-price with economic price adjustment, indefinite-quantity contract for Meal Ready-to-Eat (MRE) on behalf of the US Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Federal civilian agencies. There were 3 proposals solicited and 3 responded. Date of performance completion is Dec. 31, 2007 (SPM3S1-06-D-Z104).

Jan 19/07: AmeriQual Group LLC in Evansville, IN received a maximum $18.6 million fixed-price with economic price adjustment, indefinite-quantity contract for Meal Ready-to-Eat (MRE) on behalf of the US Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Federal civilian agencies. There were 3 proposals solicited and 3 responded. Date of performance completion is Dec. 31, 2007 (SPM3S1-06-D-Z103).

Dec 14/06: Sterling Foods, Ltd. in San Antonio, TX received a maximum $35.9 million firm fixed price contract for bakery items for use in the Meals Ready to Eat. This is an indefinite quantity type contract exercising option year one. There were 32 proposals solicited and 4 responded. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Date of performance completion is December 19, 2007 (SPM3S1-06-D-Z118).

Dec 14/06: Small business qualifier Caravan Trading Company in Union City, CA received a maximum $6.3 million firm fixed price contract for pound cakes for use in the Meals Ready to Eat. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps. This is an indefinite quantity type contract exercising option year one. There were 32 proposals solicited and 4 responded. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Date of performance completion is December 19, 2007. Contracting activity is the Defense Supply Center Philadelphia (DSCP), Philadelphia, Pa. (SPM3S1-06-D-Z116).

Nov 14/06: Small disadvantaged business qualifier Jianas Brothers Packaging Company in Kansas City, MO won a maximum $7.4 million firm fixed price contract for food components for the Meals Ready to Eat program. Using services are the US Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Federal civilian agencies. There were 7 proposals solicited by the Defense Supply Center Philadelphia (DSCP) in Philadelphia, PA, and 5 responded. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year, and the contract will end on November 13, 2007 (SPM3S1-06-D-Z119).

Nov 14/06: Small disadvantaged business qualifier Imperial Sales Company in Watsonville, CA received a maximum $5.6 million flexible price indefinite quantity contract for various commercial components for unitized group ration heat & serve and unitized group ration B. Using services are the US Army and Marine Corps. This is a base year contract with three 1-year options; contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year, and the contract base period will end on December 3, 2007. Proposals were Web-solicited by the Defense Supply Center Philadelphia (DSCP) in Philadelphia, PA, and 1 firm responded (SMP3S1-07-D-Z187).

Nov 3/06: AmeriQual Group, LLC in Evansville, IN received a maximum $167.6 million fixed-price contract with economic price adjustment for MREs and Humanitarian Daily Rations. There were 3 proposals solicited and 3 responded. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year, and the contract will end on December 31, 2007 (SPM3S1-06-D-Z103).

Oddly, a March 31, 2005 award covered in this DID article listed AmeriQual Group as a small business qualifier and SOPACKO as a firm who was not…

Nov 3/06: Small business qualifier SOPAKCO, Inc. in Mullins, SC received a maximum $148.3 million fixed-price contract with economic price adjustment for MREs and Humanitarian Daily Rations. There were 3 proposals solicited and 3 responded. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year, and the contract will end on December 31, 2007 (SPM3S1-06-D-Z104).

Nov 3/06: The Wornick Company in Cincinnati, OH received a maximum $140.5 million fixed-price contract with economic price adjustment for MREs and Humanitarian Daily Rations. There were 3 proposals solicited and 3 responded. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year, and the contract will end on December 31, 2007 (SPM3S1-06-D-Z105).

Thanks to help from Mirage and a nifty Natick presentation I found, I have finally updated the MRE Menus page with the 2007 and 2008 menus.

As you can tell from some of the dates in this section, I took a break from updating the news section. For the past year, I’ve been posting most of the new stuff over in the Forums. But with all the new stuff coming in, I think I’ll give the News section another try.