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

The MRE (Meal - Ready to Eat) Retort bagand Component PackagingOUTLINEI. pluckA. The Meal, Ready-to-EatB. Nutrition1) Caloric value2) Recommended Daily AllowanceII. Introduction to the Retort PouchA. Make-up of the pouch1) Tri-laminate MRE echo pouch2) Manufacturing specification3) Thermo-stability requirementsB. Laminate qualities1) Three layers and aim of design implementationC. Possible problems with military retort pouch use1) Punctures, tears, holes2) Outer carton use and integrity boostIII. Difference between retort pouch and non-retort pouchA. Adhesive use on sealsB. Types of food and retort pouch useC. Other packaging use in MREIV. Retort Pouch PrintingA. Required MarkingsB. Soldier or inspector use of markingsV. Defects Likely to OccurA. DelaminationB. Inspection for defect pouchesVI. Design Improvement and TestingA. Laboratory testing of pouch suitabilityB. Pouch component shelf-life1) Freezing effects2) Dry storage shelf-life3) Refrigerated shelf-lifeVII. SummationA. Combat soldier acceptanceB. Field feedbackThe 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 assist facilities ar 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 soldiers 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 argon cased 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 t ri-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 public lavatory and has proven food safety in preservation.REFERENCESBrody, 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 pliables. Packaging Digest. March 2003. Pgs. 34-38. www.packagingdigest.comNFPA Bulletin 41L, 1989. Flexible Package Integrity. National Food Processors Association, Washington, DC. www.nfpa.orgPress Release New Study Says Food Manufacturers Offering US Consumers Retort Packaging to Meet Conveniency/Lifestyle Demands. Paper, Film, & impede Converters Magazine. April 29, 2004. PRIMEDIA Business Magazines & Media Inc. www.pffc-online.comSacharow, 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