The Effects of Prolonged Feeding Meal, Ready-to-Eat (MRE) Operational Rations

The US Army Natick Research and Development Center conducted a study to evaluate the effects of prolonged feeding Meal, Ready-to-Eat (MRE) operational rations on troop effectiveness. Two combat support companies, from the 25th Infantry Division, participated in this 34-day study while they were engaged in a field training exercise at the Pohakuloa Training Area on the Island of Hawaii. One company subsisted solely on MRE rations. The other company was fed an A ration breakfast, an MRE lunch, and an A ration dinner. The MRE food items were highly rated by the troops but these foods were not consumed in sufficient quantity. Average daily caloric intake was 2,189 calories per day for the MRE group and 2,950 calories per day for the control group. The major consequences of the low food intakes were body weight loss and some vitamin and mineral intakes that were below recommended levels. The MRE group lost 8.1 pounds and the control group lost 4.6 pounds. Both groups had intakes of niacin and magnesium that were below recommended levels. The MRE group also consumed less riboflavin, calcium, and iron than recommended. The other measures that were taken to evaluate the consequences of prolonged feeding the MRE did not reveal any major differences between the two companies. questionnaires on physical symptoms, mood morale and perceptions of leadership showed only minor differences between the two companies. The performance of the two companies did not differ on a test battery of cognitive and psychomotor tasks.