Identification and Verification of
Realistic MRE Specification Requirements
Investigators: Gustavo Barbosa-Canovas, Stephanie Clark, Jose-Juan Rodriguez, Heidi Warner, David Sepulveda, Guadalupe Olivas
OVERVIEW
This research establishes the appropriate maximum headspace gas requirement for military meals-ready-to-eat (MRE's) entrees and provides an informed government decision. Appropriate headspace level for MRE's had not been previously specified. Four standard MRE's were manufactured and packaged under four headspace levels (10, 20, 30 and 40 cubic cm). The MRE's were stored under three standard temperatures (40, 80 and 100F). Quality of MRE's were assessed chemically, microbiologically and organoleptically (by trained and consumer panelists) on a monthly basis for 6 months.
OBJECTIVES
- To establish a systematic process for establishing requirements, which would allow an informed Government decision to be made concerning the necessity, extent, and/or value of the headspace value specified requirement, used in Meal-Ready to Eat individual military rations (MREs).
- To conduct research to establish the appropriate headspace gas requirement for each MRE entree that will allow for an informed Government decision.
- To define "shelf-life" in MREs and to describe appropriate metrics applicable to factors influenced by headspace.
- To document core requirements affecting shelf-life performance of MREs rations that will identify areas of additional research.
The arrival date of the products was defined as the day zero for the purpose of the shelf-life studies. Since the products arrived at different dates to WSU, day zero was different for each product. Samples were periodically randomly withdrawn to conduct the specific testing during the six months of accelerated shelf-life studies. Products stored at 100F were sampled every two weeks to assess the chemical and physical attributes with the exception of 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furaldehyde, 2-furaldehyde and ascorbic acid quantification that were sampled monthly. The products stored at 40 and 80F were also sampled monthly for all the products and attributes. Technical and consumer sensory panels were conducted every three months for the samples stored at 80F. Samples stored at 40 and 100F were evaluated monthly by the technical sensory panel and every three months by the consumer sensory panel.
See Publications
This research is funded by CORANET, the Combat Rations Network.
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