1. Ration Analysis: Project Update
Laura Lutz MS, RD
Military Nutrition Division
US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine

2. Disclaimer
The opinions or assertions contained herein are the private views of the authors are not to be construed as official or as reflecting the views of the Army or Department of Defense. Any citations of commercial organizations and trade names in this report do not constitute an official Department of the Army endorsement of approval of the products or services of these organizations. The investigators have adhered to the policies for protection of human subjects as prescribed in DOD Instruction and the research was conducted in adherence with the provisions of 32 CFR Part 219. Human subjects participated in these studies after giving their free and informed voluntary consent. Investigators adhered to DoD Instruction and 32 CFR 219 on the use of volunteers in research.

3. Outline Military Nutrition Division Ration analysis project overview
Vitamin loss of Meal-Ready-
To-Eat (MRE) 37 items
during storage
Photo courtesy of Dave Kamm

4. Military Nutrition Division
Mission: Conducts nutritional research that provides a
biomedical science basis for developing new rations,
menus, policies and programs to enable Warfighter health-
readiness and optimal performance.
Core competencies
Nutritional Physiology
Warfighter nutritional requirements
Ration evaluation
Dietary supplements
Table 1 should be populated by the PM; these numbers should be pulled from the budget sheets for FY10 and FY11. Table 2 should be populated by the TAM. Double check that the numbers from the MOMRP website match the tables.

5. Ration Analysis Project
Chemically analyze ration components
MRE, First Strike Ration, Meal Cold Weather,
Unitized Group Ration- Heat & Serve
Freshly procured
Storage shelf-life simulation
Maintain a working database of nutrient data
Combat feeding menu planning
Combat Rations Database (ComRaD)
USARIEM research protocols
Written informed consent
Randomized
Pre/post data collection

6. MRE 37 Vitamin Storage Data
146 items tested that are currently in MRE 37
Components with multiple vendors all tested separately
Freshly procured items tested within 6 months of acquisition
Storage 6 100F to simulate 3-year nutrient stability

7. B1 changes during storage
Components with large loss (> 1mg)
Cheese spreads (plain, bacon, and jalapeno)
Plain tortilla
*No fortified items, but all had high starting thiamin content * *
Total
(n=138)
Thiamin
Fortified
(n=5)
Non-Thiamin
Fortified
(n=133)
Nutritional Standard for Operational Rations 1.2 mg daily

8. B2 changes during storage
*Saw small increases in riboflavin during storage * *
Total
(n=139)
Riboflavin
Fortified
(n=2)
Non-Riboflavin
Fortified
(n=137)
Nutritional Standard for Operational Rations 1.3 mg daily

9. B6 changes during storage
Components with large loss (> 0.2 mg)
Mexican style chicken stew
Lemon pepper tuna
Cheese spread, bacon
Beef brisket
Meatballs in marinara sauce
*No fortified items * *
Total
(n=112) B6
Fortified
(n=5)
Non-B6
Fortified
(n=107)
Nutritional Standard for Operational Rations 1.3 mg daily

10. Folic acid changes during storage
Components with largest loss
(> 30 mcg)
Fortified
First strike bars (n=2)
Non-fortified
Beef stew
Nut and Raisin mix with pan coated
Chocolate disks
Brown sugar toaster pastry
Carrot pound cake
Spaghetti with beef and sauce * * *
Total
(n=117)
Folic Acid
Fortified
(n=2)
Non-Folic Acid
Fortified
(n=115)
Nutritional Standard for Operational Rations 400 mcg DFE daily

11. Vitamin D changes during storage* *
Total
(n=4)
Vitamin D
Fortified
(n=2)
Non-vitamin D
Fortified
(n=2)
Total
(n=11)
Vitamin D
Fortified
(n=7)
Non-vitamin D
Fortified
(n=4)
Table 1 should be populated by the PM; these numbers should be pulled from the budget sheets for FY10 and FY11. Table 2 should be populated by the TAM. Double check that the numbers from the MOMRP website match the tables.
Components with largest loss (> 1.5 mcg)
Fortified
Vanilla pudding powder
Chocolate protein drink
Non-fortified
Lemon pepper tuna
Nutritional Standards for operational rations
5 mcg of vitamin D daily

12. Conclusion No statistically significant change: (data not shown)
Retinol, beta-carotene, niacin, B12, vitamin C, and vitamin E

13. Thank you
Ration Analysis Project Team USARIEM Holly McClung MS, RD Claire Whitney MS, RD Alyssa Kelley Combat Feeding Directorate Julie Smith MS, RD Jeannette Kennedy PhD, RD Meg Walker MS, RD Britni Roy MS
Photo courtesy of Dave Kamm