How It's Made - MREs

[elkabong]

Dear MRE Info,

I'm wondering if anyone can share how US MREs are made? I would be very interested to see a video of the actual production process. Specifically, I'd like to know if the three MRE companies actually produce and package the food at the plant or how they receive things like tortellini/ravioli/beef stew. Is it in a huge vat that they pump into the retort bags? Also, for the Combos snacks, do they get a bulk shipment from the Combos folks and package them at their plant or do they produce a knock-off themselves? I promise has nothing to do with launch codes.

Thanks,
elkabong

[elandil]

I would be interested to find this out myself.

I know some of the accessories are produced and packaged at contract vendors and sent to the Big 3,LIke Bridgford doing the bread and stuffed but all the retort mains and sides would have to be done on site. (main reason I know about the accessories, is there's a company in Stone Mountain, about 45min-1hr away, that does the cheese and PB packets..and i've already tried, they don't sell to the public.. )

[housil]

Check our video section, there are some. Not exactly in the "How it´s made", but there was one at "Modern Marvels" if I remember right.

[elkabong]

Thanks! I found a couple of really short videos on youtube.

Ameriqual -
The Wornick Company -

I hear tell that there is a "Mail Call" with R. Lee Ermey segment about the subject. It looks like these companies receive bulk ingredients and package some as is, and maybe mix some ingredients together to make the entrees, looks pretty much like any other bulk food packaging company. Would still love to get a full "How It's Made" style episode on this.

[housil]

I posted a How-it´s-made video about MREs:
viewtopic.php?f=15&t=6048#p45174

[DangerousDave]

Huge vat of one entree in a huge Henshell food-grade mixer. Just like the Brits did Machanochie in WW1.

[elkabong]

housil,

Very cool, thanks for sharing. I'm guess you got it from German TV?

[housil]

I'm guess you got it from German TV?

Yes, I accidentally ran into that show.