Fielded Individual/Assault Ration Improvement Project Research & Development Associates Fall Forum November 2009 Judith Aylward, MS, RD Sr. Food Technologist Supplier/Vendor Liaison Individual Combat Rations Team DoD Combat Feeding Directorate Fielded Individual/Assault Ration Improvement Project R&DA Boot Camp

Combat Ration Development & Integration Process PRODUCT EVALUATION CRITERIA: WHERE COMPONENTS/ PRODUCTS ORIGINATE: Warfighter Feedback – Through a variety of channels, Warfighters often “ask” for specific menu items to be considered. Non-Developmental Item – Items that have been submitted by industry for evaluation and consideration. In-House Development – Items that have been developed by CFD R&D personnel taking into consideration current industry trends and Joint Statements of Needs (JSN) Submittals. Bench-Top Sensory Evaluations IS ITEM APPROPRIATE FOR COMBAT RATIONS? Packaging Produced/ Packaged in USA Nutrition Standards for Operational Rations Shelf Stable Historical Storage Data

Individual Combat Ration Team Carbopack First Strike Ration® Meal, Ready-to-Eat™ (MRE™) Modular Operational Ration Enhancement Meal, Cold Weather Long Range Patrol

Requirements: Meal, Ready-to-Eat ™ Provides 1300 calories per meal 24 menus 4 vegetarian meals Weight/volume crucial Approved as sole source of food for 21 days Shelf life: 3 years at 80oF & 6 months at 100oF Current production – MRE™ XXIX (2009 date of pack)

Continuous Product Improvement Meal, Ready-to-Eat ™ Continuous Product Improvement 226 new items approved since 1993 69 least acceptable items removed 4 vegetarian menus FDA food label w/allergens & trans fats Hot beverage bag in each meal Horizontal tear pouch New menu bag graphics More whole muscle meats More ethnic foods

Meal, Ready-to-Eat ™ Improvements Commercial Foods Horizontal Tear Pouch Beverage Pouch Breakfast Meals Hot Beverage Bag New Graphics

First Strike Ration® First Strike Ration®: OTSG approved restricted ration (10 days) Calorie dense, 2900 kcals Modular- eat on the move Lightweight/low cube 3 menus Performance enhancing 2 year shelf life Continuous product improvement Available for procurement

Modular Operational Ration Enhancement Pack (MORE) High Altitude Prototype Pack Mountain Warfare Training Exercises Date: 01 Oct 08 JSN 06-11

To augment combat rations with scenario specific enhancement packs MORE To augment combat rations with scenario specific enhancement packs High altitude/cold weather/extreme exertion Combat Warfighter weight loss Decrease significant loss in cognitive and physical abilities that can occur in extreme environments To provide potential performance optimizing ingredients to the Warfighter Tyrosine for cold weather Quercetin for extreme exertion Caffeine and carbohydrate for long duration/high altitude Date: 01 Oct 08 JSN 06-11

MORE MORE-High Altitude Version 1 (2010) NSN number 8970-01-577-9691 Pack 1 Pack 2 Zapplesauce® Filled Pretzels Cheese Spread, Jalapeno Nut raisin mix w/choc discs Cracker Dried Cranberries Fudge Brownie Beef Snack, Teriyaki Mini Mocha FS™ Bar Beef Snack, BBQ Beverage, Carb Electrolyte Beverage, Carb Fortified (Form e) Caffeinated Gum Weight: 330g Calories: 1025 Weight: 280g Calories: 1070

MORE MORE-High Altitude Version 2 (2011) Pack 1 Pack 2 Pack 3 Caffeinated Chocolate Pudding First Strike™ Bar Mini First Strike™ Bar, Mocha Nut Mix w/ dried fruit Nut raisin mix w/choc discs Cracker Toaster pastry (whole grain) Corn nuggets Spicy cheese and vegetable spread Energy gel Baked snack cracker Pretzels, cheese filled Bev, carb electrolyte Bev, carb fortified form E Beef jerky Zapplesauce® Caffeinated gum Weight:350g Calories: 1200 Weight: 300g Calories: 1220 Calories: 1030

Meal, Cold Weather/ Long Range Patrol (MCW/LRP) Dual purpose in single product: 12 menus MCW – Cold weather missions Lightweight/low volume Issued as 3 per day Calorically dense (4600 calories) Dehydrated components won’t freeze White meal bag LRP – Special Operations missions Issued as one per day Restricted ration 1500 calories Tan colored meal bag

New Item Introduction for Individual Combat Rations Natick In-House or Non-Developmental Item submittal Contact project officer & send to Natick 2QY1 Is item appropriate for ration? 3QY1 Item storage tested (4 wks 120F, 6 month 100F) Yes Sensory score acceptable ? No 4QY1 No further testing Item field tested No Yes Item score acceptable in the field? No Yes 2QY2 Item recommended at Joint Services Operational Ration Forum (JSORF)

Warfighter Recommended, Warfighter Tested, Warfighter Approved™ Questions? Warfighter Recommended, Warfighter Tested, Warfighter Approved™