Metal Utensils In MREs

[Redfordman]

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 that works? Thanks!

[Sirenemarie83]

I think that you need to be a bit more specific about what you mean by metal utensils? Are you talking about can openers and/or cutlery?

[carlosflar]

Some rations carried can openers, just in case the tabs failed or because they where needed, the australian rations for example have the FRED, that its a can opener that doubles as a spoon...
Most of the armies get issued cutlery sets or get spoons/sporks or even sometimes plastic cutlery sets on their rations, the most common option i think are cutlery sets...
for example, the spanish army gets a spoon, a fork and a multitool flipknife

[Redfordman]

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 like my Grandfather did in WWII? Are MREs quite different now in how they're stored, heated and eaten that it negates the need for each soldier to have their own cutlery set?

[RockyRaab]

There have never been metal utensils in MREs (or for that matter in C-rats, MCIs, MCWs, LRPs, or other US rations) as far as I know. Back in WWII, each soldier was issued a mess kit and a set of metal utensils. Those added a lot of extra weight to an already way overburdened pack. So the standard now is a disposable plastic spoon in each meal.

Mess halls probably still have metal utensils and washable trays, but that's a different thing altogether.

[Redfordman]

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

[RockyRaab]

There have never been FREDs in MREs. They are only in Aussie rations.

[Redfordman]

I understand much more now. Thank you all.

[elandil]

Yeah, P-38 can openers were issued with k-Rations, C-rations and MCI's, but when they went to retort pouches with the MRE's they were binned. Troopers were previously issued a metal mess kit, and utensils, along with a metal canteen cup, but it was a general issue and not with every ration. Even the UGR/Group rations have started coming with plastic utensils and disposable trays.

[RockyRaab]

Possibly, some of the confusion comes from the "Youtube" habit of calling all rations MREs. That's as inaccurate as calling all small planes Piper Cubs, or all tissues Kleenex. An MRE is only one type of US ration among many others, and no other country's rations are MREs.