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In the early 1980s, this The MeatingPlace.com reporter was
first introduced to MREs – Meals-Ready-to-Eat -- during an interview with the
top executive of Right Away Foods, developer of this innovative meal concept.
At the time, he expressed hopes his unique food idea would evolve beyond just
providing rations for the U.S. Armed Services.
Most recently, this company, a division of Cincinnati-based The Wornick Co.,
played a major role in easing the plight of residents in Xenia, Ohio, after a
tornado ripped through that town. Here’s the story.
On the evening of Sept. 20, the town was devastated by a big-time tornado.
One person died, more than 100 others were injured, and homes and businesses
were lost. Residents were left in need of the basics- shelter, clothing and
food.
The Wornick Co. responded to the call for assistance by donating more than
2,500 MREs, which are now being distributed through Xenia's Health and Human
Services Department.
A Wornick innovation, the MRE has a 12-month shelf life without
refrigeration, meets all Agriculture Department standards, and still tastes
good, according to a news release. It is a totally self-contained, flexibly
packaged, nutritious, complete meal requiring no refrigeration or
preparation.
The MRE needs only to be boiled before eating. However, under emergency
conditions, it can be eaten as is. Wornick donated four varieties to the
Xenia relief effort: pasta with vegetables, beef with mushrooms, chili and
macaroni and chicken with noodles.
This isn’t the first time the company has come to the rescue of people in
need. It has played an important role in feeding displaced populations
worldwide, including those affected by the recent conflicts in Bosnia and
Serbia.
"We are proud to be in a position to help our Xenia neighbors during a
time of crisis," said Stephanie Hart, Wornick product manager.
The Wornick Co. is the global leader in ration manufacturing, serving both
commercial and military markets. It operates two divisions. The Prepared
Foods Division in Cincinnati prepares, packages and distributes shelf-stable,
frozen and extended shelf-life refrigerated foods, including the Cafe Express
brand. The Right Away division, based in McAllen, Tex., produces the MilSpec
meals in a bag, a commercial version of the MRE product.
In addition, Wornick's Right Away division is currently the dominant supplier
of MREs and other subsistence products to the Department of Defense. More
than 300 million MREs have been produced since the product was first created
in 1979.
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