Review of 2006 Menu #10 MRE - Tuna

[Jpak]

Hey now...it's Friday afternoon and I just came back from a run; so I needed a snack before going out. Out came the Menu #10 MRE - Tuna. I actually got this MRE from Treesuit...he's great to deal with. This was a 2006 MRE made by Ameriqual Packaging. I cut the pouch open and found that all of the items were self-contained in another interior pouch. As everyone knows, in addition to making military MREs, Ameriqual also makes the civilian A-Pack MREs that are contained in what appears to be the exact same type of pouch that was used here. Not really sure why they double-bag the military MREs, but what the hey...keeps everything extra fresh?

Outer and inner pouches

I cut open the interior pouch and laid everything out on the table for your viewing pleasure...

Menu #10 contents displayed

The Menu #10 MRE - Tuna contained the following:

1. Commercial packet of Starkist Tuna - Chunk White (It's not solid albacore, but close enough) - 100 cal
2. Tortillas x 2 - 220 cal
3. Packet of Fat Free Mayo - 20 cal
4. Pretzel Sticks - 100 cal
5. Oatmeal cookie - 280 cal
6. Strawberry Dairy Shake - 460 cal + 19 g fat
7. Accessory Packet
8. Brown spoon

I mixed the tuna and mayo together and split up the batch onto the 2 tortillas. Had to put on my own tabasco since the MRE didn't come with it. Why they don't put tabasco into every MRE is still one of those unanswered mysteries of the world. It’s also a little odd that they use commercial Starkist tuna pouches, just like the ones you can get at the supermarket…but at least they’re using Starkist…a brand I know and trust. I’m no tree-hugger, but I also noticed there wasn’t any dolphin free logos on this pouch…good lord, I think I've lived in California too long.

Tuna and Tortillas

Tuna/mayo/tortilla combo was excellent. Since it was chunk white tuna, the tuna held up getting mixed with mayo….i.e. the tuna didn’t disintegrate into mush, and the tortillas tasted just like any packaged tortilla I’ve had before. Don’t get me wrong, these tortillas are definitely not like the ones you’ll find at a good Mexican restaurant, but I’m pretty sure those won’t hold up to 3 years of storage either. I’m always a little surprised when the older MREs (in this case a 2006) still taste as fresh as new MREs. Tortillas held up and were actually a little chewy.

I had the tuna tortilla sandwiches with the pretzel sticks and man…those pretzels give you a god awful thirst. I must’ve downed 3 glasses of water just eating the pretzels. Pretzels were nice and crunchy, but a bit on the salty side.

Pretzel Sticks

I poured some water into the Strawberry Dairy Shake packet (helpful tip: put more water than they actually recommend, otherwise you’ll end up with what looks like pink glue ), shook it up, and tossed it in the freezer for a couple minutes to get it nice and cold. To be honest, the stuff looks like pepto bismol. Nice, huh?

Dairy Shake

Oatmeal cookie

I cracked open the oatmeal cookie and ate that with the strawberry shake. Good combo. The oatmeal cookie is a hard cookie, very sweet, but not much oatmeal flavor to it. It was just okay. The strawberry shake actually tastes exactly like the strawberry protein powder shakes that I drink…just not as gritty. Mind you, it ain’t no McDonalds strawberry shake, but it’ll fill your hankering for something sweet.
Total up the calories and it only comes up to 1,180 total for the Menu #10 Tuna MRE. Definitely wouldn’t fill you up, but all in all, a pretty good snack. I just wish they would fill the MRE with some more food like an extra tuna packet instead of piling on empty calories with that 460 cal strawberry shake.

It's time to head out. Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed the review.

[housil]

Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed the review.

As I saw that Tuna MRE for the first time, I really enjoyed your rewiev - thx for sharing

[MCIera]

The packaging is already in place and it already has the shelf life that meets the needed specifications. Why re-invent the wheel? Additionally, it brings packaging and branding that the intended consumer is already familiar with, which is one of Natick's objectives in bringing familiar food products to the warfighter. The intended demographic for MRE components isn't looking for food in plain olive drab packages, that touch of home can be very comforting to someone a long way from home.

It’s also a little odd that they use commercial Starkist tuna pouches, just like the ones you can get at the supermarket…but at least they’re using Starkist…a brand I know and trust.

[Jpak]

Housil, my pleasure. MCIera, thanks for the info. You know what's interesting, the Starkist packet was actually made in American Somoa. I think that's the first time I've ever seen anything produced in American Somoa.

[MCIera]

All of the packaged tuna in the U.S. is from off-shore facilities. In the past, the retort Starkist packages have been from Ecuador or Thailand. The "White" tuna is something new in their product line and is probably not albacore (otherwise they would capitalize on it for higher pricing.)

Housil, my pleasure. MCIera, thanks for the info. You know what's interesting, the Starkist packet was actually made in American Somoa. I think that's the first time I've ever seen anything produced in American Somoa.

[mreheater72]

Nice and detailed review, thanks a lot !

The Tuna/mayo/tortilla combo looks yummy, I will try it soon !

So long mreheater72

[MR.EMAN]

Thanks for the review. I've been kinda keeping this entree for a trade or something, but actually I might try it out. Certainly had worse Perhaps the wife might try it since, after all it is Starkist

The packaging is already in place and it already has the shelf life that meets the needed specifications. Why re-invent the wheel? Additionally, it brings packaging and branding that the intended consumer is already familiar with, which is one of Natick's objectives in bringing familiar food products to the warfighter. The intended demographic for MRE components isn't looking for food in plain olive drab packages, that touch of home can be very comforting to someone a long way from home.

An interesting observation. Our troops are looking for more commercially branded items, for that familiar taste of home, and to make them more palatable, and we, the connoisseurs of such, flock to them for being in a .mil package. Case in point for myself, is that I won't typically eat or drink anything "commercial" that is past the date on such. Give me a .mil ration and I'll eat it 10- 20 years past its 'due date' It seems I have more trust in the milspec than commercial standard.

[MCIera]

If it will ease your concerns about the commercial products, the companies that produce and package the MRE entrees are generally also in the business of producing similarly packaged food products for both retail and institutional usage. As an example, Wornick also produced many of the NutraSystem branded retort items. Sopakco produces retort packaged food products for institutional and commercial usage. All said, the MRE production is probably just a small part of the overall business for some of the MRE contract suppliers.

Case in point for myself, is that I won't typically eat or drink anything "commercial" that is past the date on such. Give me a .mil ration and I'll eat it 10- 20 years past its 'due date' It seems I have more trust in the milspec than commercial standard.

[housil]

I had my very first Tuna MRE today, a 2007 (with poissend diary shake)





and I realy enjoyed it A little ("silent") "lemon" flavour

[Ace]

It's strange that I have always had tortillas and pouches of tuna around, but have never thought of putting the two together. I have to admit that it actually looks good.

Does anyone know how they make a fat free mayonnaise, though? Doesn't seem scientifically possible.