Each meal provides approximately 1,200 Calories (1,200 kcal or 5,000 kJ). General contents include: a main course high in starch; crackers; a cheese, peanut butter, or jelly spread; a dessert or snack; powdered beverage mix; an accessory packet; a plastic spoon; a beverage bag; and a flameless ration heater (FRH). However, not every MRE contains all listed items. They are intended to be eaten for a maximum of twenty-one days, and have a shelf life of three years.[2] Packaging requirements are strict. MREs must be capable of withstanding parachute drops from 380 m (1,250 feet), and non-parachute drops of 30 m (100 feet). The packaging is required to maintain a minimum shelf life of three and a half years at 27 °C (80 °F) or nine months at 38 °C (100 °F); additionally, short-term temperature extremes of -51 °C (-60 °F) to 49 °C (120 °F) must be sustainable. New forms of packaging are being considered to better meet these requirements including the use of zein to replace the foil, which can be easily punctured, conducts heat, and may give away a soldier's position.[3] In 2006, 'Beverage Bags' were introduced to the MRE, as soldiers in Iraq depended more on Camelbacks than canteens. Soldiers have a metal 'canteen cup' in one of their canteen holders, and used this to mix the drink portion of the MRE. Since more and more soldiers are using Camelbacks and don't have their canteen cups, the Beverage bags were intended to fill this role. In addition to having marks on the bag to indicate levels of water for precise measurement, they can be sealed and placed inside the flameless heater, to heat the liquid. Each MRE weighs 380 to 510 g (13 to 18 oz) depending on the menu. Each MRE is labeled: U.S. Government Property Commercial Resale is Unlawful Flameless Ration Heaters are prohibited on commercial airlines unless sealed in the original MRE menu bag, due to the hydrogen fumes yielded by the chemical process of cooking with them. [edit] MRE contents An MRE contains a main course, side dish, bread, dessert, and flameless ration heater.Main course Side dish Dessert Cracker or bread Spread Beverage powder Utensils Accessories (chewing gum, matches, toilet paper...) [edit] MRE menus MRE I (1981) ~ MRE V (1985) Pork Patty(dehydrated) Ham & Chicken loaf Beef Patty(dehyrated) Beef slices in BBQ sauce Beef stew Frankfurters with beans, beans with tomato sauce in separate bag. Turkey diced with gravy(this entree was nick-named "wild turkey surprise", by Infantry troops) Beef diced with gravy Chicken a la King Meatballs & BBQ sauce Ham slices Beef ground with spiced sauce Chicken loaf, there was a plain chicken loaf, but very short lived, unlike the "ham and chicken loaf. Omelet, with ham.(MRE VII-1993) MRE XXV (2005) Grilled Beefsteak with mushroom gravy BBQ Pork rib Beef ravioli Cheese & vegetable omelet Chicken breast fillet Chicken fajita Chicken with salsa Hamburger patty Beef stew Chili with macaroni Penne with vegetable sausage in spicy tomato sauce (Vegetarian) Veggie burger in BBQ sauce (Vegetarian) Cheese tortellini (Vegetarian) Vegetable Manicotti (Vegetarian) Beef enchiladas Chicken with noodles Sloppy Joe filling Cajun rice with sausage Pot roast with vegetables Spaghetti with meat sauce Chicken Tetrazzini Jambalaya Chicken with cavatelli Meatloaf with gravy Thai Chicken in sauce MRE XXVI (2006) 01 - Chili w/Beans 02 - Pork Rib 03 - Beef Ravioli 04 - Cheese & Vegetable Omelet 05 - Chicken Breast 06 - Chicken Fajita 07 - Chicken w/Salsa 08 - Beef Patty 09 - Beef Stew 10 - Tuna 11 - Spicy Penne Pasta 12 - Veggie Burger w/BBQ Sauce 13 - Cheese Tortellini 14 - Vegetable Manicotti 15 - Beef Enchilada 16 - Chicken w/Noodles 17 - Sloppy Joe 18 - Cajun Rice & Sausage 19 - Beef Roast w/Vegetables 20 - Spaghetti w/Meat Sauce 21 - Chili And Macaroni 22 - Jambalaya 23 - Chicken w/Cavatelli 24 - Meatloaf w/Gravy MRE XXVI (2007) 01 - Chili w/Beans 02 - Pork Rib 03 - Beef Ravioli 04 - Cheese & Vegetable Omelet 05 - Chicken Breast 06 - Chicken w/Noodles 07 - Chicken w/Salsa 08 - Beef Patty 09 - Beef Stew 10 - Tuna in Pouch 11 - Vegetable Manicotti 12 - Veggie Burger w/BBQ Sauce 13 - Cheese Tortellini 14 - Spicy Penne Pasta 15 - Beef Enchilada 16 - Chicken Fajita 17 - Sloppy Joe Filling 18 - Meatballs w/Marinara 19 - Pot Roast w/Vegetables 20 - Spaghetti w/Meat Sauce 21 - Chili And Macaroni 22 - Chicken w/Dumplings 23 - Chicken w/Cavatelli 24 - Meatloaf w/Gravy MRE XXVI (2008) 01 - Chili w/Beans 02 - Pork Rib 03 - Beef Ravioli 04 - Cheese & Vegetable Omelet 05 - Chicken Breast 06 - Chicken w/Noodles 07 - Meatloaf w/Gravy 08 - Beef Patty 09 - Beef Stew 10 - Chili & Macaroni 11 - Vegetable Lasagna 12 - Veggie Burger w/BBQ Sauce 13 - Cheese Tortellini 14 - Spicy Penne Pasta 15 - Beef Enchilada 16 - Chicken Fajita 17 - Sloppy Joe Filling 18 - Meatballs w/Marinara 19 - Pot Roast w/Vegetables 20 - Spaghetti w/Meat Sauce 21 - Tuna in Pouch 22 - Chicken w/Dumplings 23 - Chicken Pesto & Pasta 24 - Chicken w/Salsa Criticism Some of the early MRE main courses were not very palatable, earning them the nicknames "Mr. E" (mystery),[4] "Meals Rejected by Everyone",[5] "Meals, Rarely Edible",[6] "Meals Rejected by the Enemy", "Morsels, Regurgitated, Eviscerated", "Meals Refusing to Excrete", "Meal, Ready to Excrete", and even "Meals Rejected by Ethiopians"[7]. Some meals got their own nicknames. For example, the frankfurters, which came sealed in pouches of four, were referred to as "the four fingers of death."[5] Although quality has improved over the years, many of the nicknames have stuck. MREs were often called "Three Lies for the Price of One"[8] - it's not a Meal, it's not Ready, and you can't Eat it. Their low dietary fiber content could cause constipation in some so they were also known as "Meals Refusing to Exit."[9] While the commonly-held belief that the gum found in MREs contains a laxative is false, the crackers in the ration pack do contain a higher than normal vegetable content to facilitate excretion. Reportedly, the 'Charms' (colored candies coming with many MREs) are considered bad luck by the U.S. military (especially if actually eaten).[10] This may be a case of a joking dislike becoming a superstition (i.e. not eating them 'just in case' or because it might make one's comrades uneasy). In December of 2006 comedian Al Franken (on his 8th USO tour at the time) joked to troops in Iraq that he'd had his fifth MRE so far and "none of them had an exit strategy." Army wags have taken to calling the MRE's toilet paper "John Wayne." This is said to be because "it's rough, it's tough, and it don't take shit from nobody." See List of U.S. Army acronyms and expressions. The National Guard has provided MREs to the public during National Disasters such as Hurricane Frances, Hurricane Jeanne, and Hurricane Katrina. The recent growth of MREs listed on eBay (2005) has resulted in a government investigation of whether they were intended for Hurricane Katrina victims, and the news media nickname "Meals Ready for Ebay."[12] Some cases are being sold from Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida and other Gulf states affected by Katrina. The internal cost of a 12 pack case of MREs is $86.98 (approx. $7.25 a meal) to the government, much higher than what is actually paid to vendors. Officials from eBay have asked the Pentagon to cite a law that prevents the sale of military issue MREs but have yet to receive an answer.[12] As a result of earlier unauthorized sales to civilians, the Department of Defense had required that "U.S. Government Property, Commercial Resale is Unlawful" be printed on each case of MREs.[13] Alternative uses A pastime for troops in the field is to make small explosive devices from the material inside an MRE.[14] The hydrogen produced from the FRH (flameless ration heater) is captured in the same manner as in a dry ice bomb, causing the expanding hydrogen to eventually rupture the bottle explosively. Most of the leadership frown upon this practice due to the inherent danger of any improvised explosive, especially since the bottle releases flammable hydrogen. "MRE bombs" detonated near campfires or open flames can result in serious burns. In addition, some pranksters drop small pebbles or stones into a bottle, resulting in potentially dangerous shrapnel. Another method of passing time is to put the tabasco sauce that comes in the MRE into the FRH, the effects being similar to tear gas or pepper spray.[15] In addition, the coffee creamer included in most MRE accessory packs is highly flammable. An MRE packet made into a "Hurricane Katrina handbag"In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita in 2005, a large number of civilians were exposed to MREs, prompting several jokes during the recent New Orleans Mardi Gras with revellers donning clothing made of MRE packets with phrases such as "MRE Antoinette" and "Man Ready to Eat". Many Hurricane Katrina handbags have also appeared on eBay.