The Meal Ready-to-Eat Essays -- essays research papers

The MRE (Meal - Ready to Eat) Retort Pouch and Component Packaging OUTLINE I. Abstract A. The Meal, Ready-to-Eat B. Nutrition 1) Caloric value 2) Recommended Daily Allowance II. Introduction to the Retort Pouch A. Make-up of the pouch 1) Tri-laminate MRE retort pouch 2) Manufacturing specification 3) Thermo-stability requirements B. Laminate qualities 1) Three layers and object of design implementation C. Possible problems with military retort pouch use 1) Punctures, tears, holes 2) Outer carton use and integrity boost III. Difference between retort pouch and non-retort pouch A. Adhesive use on seals B. Types of food and retort pouch use C. Other packaging use in MRE IV. Retort Pouch Printing A. Required Markings B. Soldier or inspector use of markings V. Defects Likely to Occur A. Delamination B. Inspection for defect pouches VI. Design Improvement and Testing A. Laboratory testing of pouch suitability B. Pouch component shelf-life 1) Freezing effects 2) Dry storage shelf-life 3) Refrigerated shelf-life VII. Summation A. Combat soldier acceptance B. Field feedback The Meal, Ready-To-Eat (MRE) has been specially designed to sustain an individual soldier in heavy activity such as during actual military operations when normal food service facilities are not available. The MRE is a totally self-contained operational ration consisting of a full meal packed in a flexible meal bag. The full bag is lightweight and fits easily into the soldier's military field clothing pockets. The contents of one MRE meal bag provide an average of 1250 kilocalories (13 % protein, 36 % fat, and 51 % carbohydrates). It also provides 1/3 of the Military Recommended Daily Allowance of vitamins and minerals as determined by the Surgeon General of the United States. Most of the food components of the MRE are packaged in flexible packages. Some of the packages are the same or very similar to those used for previous types of operational ration components, but others are newer forms of packaging technology such as the vacuum packed tri-laminate, non-retortable pouch, and the tri-laminate, retortable pouch. Since almost all of the primary and secondary components of the MRE are packaged in tri-laminate pouches, these will be the primary presentation focus. The retortable pouch, often referred to as the flexible can,... ...he development of improved food preservation techniques has occurred largely on the battlefields of the world. What started as a suitable package for space flight meals and the MRE, the retort pouch is now common for packaging of commercial food products of today. The retort pouch has become an industry icon of convenience and has proven food safety in preservation. REFERENCES Brody, Aaron L. The Return of the Retort Pouch. Food Technology Magazine. Vol. 57, No. 2. February 2003. Pgs. 76-79. Hartman, Lauren R. User is King with Flexibles. Packaging Digest. March 2003. Pgs. 34-38. www.packagingdigest.com NFPA Bulletin 41L, 1989. Flexible Package Integrity. National Food Processors Association, Washington, DC. www.nfpa.org Press Release: New Study Says Food Manufacturers Offering US Consumers Retort Packaging to Meet Conveniency/Lifestyle Demands. Paper, Film, & Foil Converters Magazine. April 29, 2004. PRIMEDIA Business Magazines & Media Inc. www.pffc-online.com Sacharow, Stanley. Is the Retort Pouch Really Ready to Replace the Can? Paper, Film, & Foil Converter Magazine. APR 2003. PRIMEDIA Business Magazines & Media Inc. www.pffc-online.com