I understand much more now. Thank you all.

How long have FREDs been offered in MREs? Or was the FRED issued separately?

I meant cutlery. The examples of the FRED or other MREs that contain an all-purpose spoon make me wonder why those are in there, if as in times and wars past, soldiers carried metal plates and cutlery, why would they be there in the first place? Do fewer soldiers carry metal cooking and eating gear ...

I am new to the wonderful world of military rations. I have noticed that some MREs in the past have included metal all-purpose utensils. I always though that individual soldiers already carried these types of implements with them. Could anyone explain this to me and set me straight about how all of ...