Accession Number:

ADA399559

Title:

Nutrient Content of the Meal, Ready-to-Eat 1988 - 1999

Descriptive Note:

Technical note

Corporate Author:

ARMY RESEARCH INST OF ENVIRONMENTAL MEDICINE NATICK MA

Personal Author(s):

• Sherman, Doris E.

Report Date:

2002-02-01

Pagination or Media Count:

35.0

Abstract:

While there were many changes made in the ration components and menus of the Meal-Ready-to-Eat MRE during the period from 1988 to 1999, the changes did not have a great impact on the nutrient content of the ration. This report discusses each of 31 nutrients in the MRE VIII - XIX meals and how these nutrients met the Nutritional Standard for Operational Rations NSOR. Magnesium, zinc and folate, which fell slightly below the NSOR in some versions of the ration, should be considered as part of the fortification in future MREs. It also emerged that the fat content of the ration has had a tendency to rise because 0 the increasing number of fat-containing spreads in the ration. Because this trend can be pinpointed to one group of foods, it could be corrected by decreasing the number of occurrences or package weight of these items. In a comparison to an old research study, this paper also demonstrates how the consistency of nutrient data used over time needs to be controlled in order to draw the right conclusions regarding a ration.

Descriptors:

• *MEALS
• *RATIONS
• *NUTRIENT ANALYSIS
• PROTEINS
• ENERGY
• MOISTURE CONTENT
• NUTRIENTS
• CHOLESTEROL
• FATS
• FOOD
• CARBOHYDRATES
• MINERALS
• FORTIFICATIONS
• FATTY ACIDS
• VITAMINS
• INGESTION(PHYSIOLOGY)

Subject Categories:

• Food, Food Service and Nutrition

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE