Halal MRE - An Introduction To Rat Packs

By Daniel Reed


Imagine you are a soldier on the battlefield come meal time. You don't have a microwave oven and it isn't always convenient to build a campfire. That is why meals, ready to eat, were developed for use in the American armed forces. Because some individuals in military service have special dietary requirements, rations have been developed for both Kosher and Halal MRE.

The consumption of "rat packs" is not limited to members of the armed forces. Astronauts use military-like ready meals. They are also suitable for preppers. In order to meet the requirements for the meals to be prepared under battle conditions with a minimum of fuss, certain comprises are often made with respect to palatability. As a consequence, MREs have been referred to affectionately as "Meals Rejected by the Enemy, " "Meals, Rarely Edible, " and "Meals Resembling Edibles, " to name just a few.

The contents of a ration pack for a single generally consist of an entree, a second course, and a dessert. It would also be likely to contain crackers or a roll with peanut butter and jam or other spread. To keep the weight of the pack down to a manageable level, beverages are, by necessity, powdered. A pack might have coffee or tea or a powdered cold beverage. Seasonings (salt, pepper, ketchup, etc.) are often included as is a packet of after-dinner chewing gum.

Ration packs contain non-food items as well. Specifically, these would include utensils (usually in the form of a sturdy plastic spoon), a beverage mixing bag, paper napkin and/or toilet paper, along with a pre-moistened towelette. The pack would also include water-resistant matches and a flameless ration heater.

The manufacturers also accommodate the dietary requirements and religious restrictions of service members. Specifically, Kosher and Halal regimens are catered for. For those living in hostile weather conditions, such as near the poles, there are special cold weather meals. In some places, the temperature gets so low that even the FRH cannot bring them to a thaw, never mind suitable eating temperature.

Muslims are catered for by special Halal ration packs. These include things that Muslims are allowed to eat according to Islamic law. One of the main prohibitions is eating pork. Halal regulations cover cosmetics and drugs, too.

Pork is also prohibited under Kosher dietary requirements observed by Jewish people. This dates back to Jacob, the patriarch of the twelve Israelite tribes, who damaged his hip joint in an all-night wrestling match with an angel. To this day, Jews avoid eating pork. Both Kosher and Halal regimes have specific regulations concerning the way the animals are slaughtered.

Astronauts and those living aboard the International Space Station have certain dietary challenges to contend with. The two main ones are lack of gravity and confined quarters. For some reason, food loses its flavor in outer space, so food needs to be spicier than on planet earth. You might think that sandwiches would fit the bill for these conditions, but apparently not. Gus Grissom, commander of the Gemini II mission, was gently reprimanded by NASA for smuggling a corned beef sandwich on board.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment