الاثنين، 28 مارس 2016

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.

To be suitable for use in combat by soldiers, snipers, special forces, and other members of the military, there are certain strict requirements regarding the menus, packaging, and accessories in a single ration pack. Because there has to be a compromise between these regulations and the delectability of the meals, they are humorously known as "Meals Resembling Edibles, " "Morsels, Regurgitated, Eviscerated, " and "Meal Ready to Expel, " to name a few of the more polite colloquialisms.

The typical contents of a single rat pack meal might include a main course, side dish, and dessert. A soldier might also find bread or crackers, along with a cheese spread, jam, or peanut butter. A powdered beverage mix is also included. This might take the form of coffee, tea, or hot chocolate; equally, it might be a fruit-flavored drink in powdered form. The edible elements of an accessory pack might contain chewing gum and seasonings.

The non-edible component contains a spoon, a bag for preparing the beverage, and something for personal hygiene, like a napkin or moist towelette. Waterproof matches are thrown in. Also essential is a flameless heater to bring the temperature of the meal to an acceptable level for palatability and food safety.

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.

For service members with strict religious dietary requirements, the military offers a type of pack called "Meals, Religious, Kosher/Halal." Halal meals are those that Muslims are permitted to eat under Islamic Shariah law. The most well-known example of a forbidden food is pork. Halal covers non-food items as well, including medicines and cosmetics.

It's not just Muslims who are not permitted to eat pork; it is restricted under Kosher regulations as well. Way back in the formation of the Israelite nation, Jacob, whose sons formed the leadership of the original 12 tribes of Israel, spent an entire night wrestling with an angel. In the process, he injured his hip. That is why Jews do not eat bacon or other pork products.

In space, the lack of gravity imposes certain restrictions on what is suitable for human consumption. Eating bread poses challenges, for instance, as Gus Grissom found to his cost when he tried to eat a sandwich onboard Gemini II. Also, for some reason, taste buds are suppressed in outer space, so efforts have to be made to spice things up.




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