SUITABILITY OF MRE AND TRAY RATIONS IN AND NBC ENVIRONMENT

File: 970313_sep96_decls42_0002.txt
Page: 0002
Total Pages: 3

Subject = SUITABILITY OF MRE AND TRAY RATIONS IN AND NBC ENVIRONMENT

Folder Title = COMMAND REPORTING FILES-1

Parent Organization = XVIII CORPS

Unit = 16TH MP BDE

Box ID = BX002201

File Cabinet = Week-48

File Room = sep96_classified

A@CMAB-VT
5 December 1990

INFORMATION PAPER

Subject: Suitabili'@y of Meals Ready to Eat (,'@RE's) and Tray Rations in
an IIBC environment.

1. Purpose: To provide guidelines on the feasibility of consuming MRE's
and tray rations in a NBC environment.

2. Facts:

a. Chemical agents oil primary concern regarding food contamination
are nerve and blis@.er agen@s.

b. Packaging systems for standarc! B rations and MRE's provide subs'@'ant4al
protection froii NBC agents.

c. An acceptable and safe level oil NBC agent contamination of food
has not been determined or established for food.

d. No field riet@.od exists for detecting biological, or ciieniicai contamination
oil food.

e. Pallets of M;'?Es tire 41 are projected witti a shrink.over wrap should
L
be safe f@ori chcir.-Ical agent penetration for 2 hours.
f. NBC protective covers if ti@Gilized to provide covering for operational
rations, will provide 72 hours Dro'L-ection agains'u, all chemical agents except
dusty r.!ustard.

g. The IO.IZE pouch is hermetically sealed; il intacj@, one can assume
that the food would be safe in an NBC environment. The only item within
the MRE pouch not adequately protected fro.-.i direct exposure is the spoon.

h. Would need to be aware of possible contact hazard on outside of
PR@17 pouch. A 10% chlorox bleach/bot'61ed water solu@6ion is used to decontaminate
exposed MR@. pouches for emergency issue only.

i. Canned rations (T-rations) are protected fro:.l penetration by NBC
agents. @lowever, the containers should be irri@ersed in boiling, soapy water
for 30 minutes to re;aove surface contamination.

j. Fustards are able to penetrate wood, leattier, rubber and pain'L,.
They are much more persistent in a cold temperate climate. They are Doorly
water soluble and react violently with standard (JecontE!:..iinates. If decon
operations are considered, use a dry mix of Hyper@Lropical household bleach
(ill'il) or STB diluted to a ration of 3 parts decontaminate to 5 parts sand.

k. Canvas will keep out 95% of liquid contamination if reloved within
60 minutes after the attack.

Document 3 f:/Week-48/BX002201/COMMAND REPORTING FILES-1/suitability of mre and tray rations in and nbc environment:03069709502543
Control Fields 17
File Room = sep96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-48
Box ID = BX002201
Unit = 16TH MP BDE
Parent Organization = XVIII CORPS
Folder Title = COMMAND REPORTING FILES-1
Folder Seq # = 1
Subject = SUITABILITY OF MRE AND TRAY RATIONS IN AND NBC ENVIRONMENT
Document Seq # = 20
Document Date =
Scan Date =
Queued for Declassification = 01-JAN-1980
Short Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Long Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Permanent Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Non-Health Related Document = 01-JAN-1980
Declassified = 06-MAR-1997