Moisture Content of Commercial Items Used in the MRE

The Combat Rations Network (CORANET) is a Defense Logistic Agency (DLA) sponsored manufacturing technology program to improve the quality, reduce the cost, and increase the productivity of operational rations while increasing DLA's surge capability in the area of military rations. This report summarizes results obtained in STP 2009 the objective of which is to verify and test the specification requirements for production of selected commercial baked items in MREs. The time between when the Combat Ration Assembler receives either a Government-furnished or a Commercially acquired item until final packaging is completed may be critical to shelf-life. Interim storage may be at ambient humidity levels and temperatures that overwhelm bulk packaging resulting in item changes detrimental to shelf-life. The mechanism by which shelf-life is shortened may include starch retro-gradation (at levels not normally seen as staling) or non-enzymatic browning (again at levels below product rejection). The original document contains color images.