Judith Aylward, MS, RD Sr. Food Technologist Supplier/Vendor Liaison

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

2. Combat Ration Development & Integration Process Bench-Top Sensory Evaluations Produced/Packaged in USA Packaging IS ITEM APPROPRIATE FOR COMBAT RATIONS? Shelf Stable Nutrition Standards for Operational Rations Historical Storage Data 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.

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

4. Meal, Ready-to-Eat ™ Requirements: • 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)

5. 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

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

7. 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

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

9. 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

10. MORE MORE-High Altitude Version 1 (2010) NSN number 8970-01-577-9691

11. MORE MORE-High Altitude Version 2 (2011)

12. 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

13. 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)

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