Mre Gum: Laxative Or Not?

There is a long-held belief that the gum in MREs (Meal, Ready-to-Eat)—the self-contained individual United States military ration—contains a laxative. This idea has been passed down for generations and is often shared with new recruits. However, this is just a myth. According to David Accetta, an Army veteran and chief of public affairs at Natick Soldier Systems Center, the gum does not have any laxative effects and is simply included to help service members keep their teeth clean.

MRE gum is xylitol-based and has a mild laxative effect

Meal, Ready-to-Eat (MRE) gum is xylitol-based and has a mild laxative effect. Xylitol is a sugar substitute that can cause mild laxative effects depending on the dosage. While the amount of xylitol in MRE gum is not enough to cause significant laxative effects, it can still have a mild impact on bowel movements.

MRE gum is included in military rations to help service members maintain oral hygiene, particularly when they do not have access to toothbrushes and toothpaste. Xylitol has been shown to reduce plaque and improve overall oral health. Chewing gum also stimulates saliva production, which aids in removing food particles from the mouth.

There is a common misconception that MRE gum contains laxatives, with some believing that the red gum acts as a laxative while the white gum has anti-diarrheal properties. However, these claims have been refuted by official sources, who state that the gum is solely intended for oral hygiene purposes.

It is worth noting that while MREs themselves do not typically cause constipation, their low dietary fiber content can contribute to this issue. As a result, MREs have been nicknamed "Meals Refusing to Exit" or "Meals Requiring Enemas". To address this, the crackers in MRE ration packs contain a higher-than-normal vegetable content to facilitate digestion.

The gum is intended to keep soldiers' teeth clean

Meals, Ready to Eat (MREs) are a staple of deployments and field training exercises for the US military. They are also known for causing gastrointestinal issues. The gum found in MREs is believed by many soldiers to be a laxative, with the red, cinnamon-flavoured gum thought to be a laxative, and the white, mint-flavoured gum believed to be an anti-diarrhoeal. However, this is a myth.

The gum in MREs is intended to keep soldiers' teeth clean. David Accetta, an Army veteran and chief of public affairs at the Army Natick Soldier Systems Center, which supplies food to the military, confirmed that the gum in MREs is not a laxative but a gum with xylitol, which helps with oral health and hygiene in the field.

Chewing gum with xylitol daily can result in a 30% to 85% reduction in tooth decay. This is important because maintaining dental health can be challenging in the field, where soldiers may not have the opportunity to brush their teeth after every meal.

While the gum in MREs is not intended as a laxative, it is possible to experience gastrointestinal issues from consuming large amounts of xylitol. A study by the University of Turku's Institute of Dentistry found that xylitol doses of 90 grams or more caused loose stools and diarrhoea in healthy adults. However, it would require consuming the gum from 45 MREs in a day to reach this amount of xylitol, which is unlikely to occur.

MREs are self-contained US military rations

Meal, Ready-to-Eat (MRE) is a self-contained individual ration for the US military. It is designed to be a nutritionally balanced meal for service members in combat or field conditions where other food is unavailable. Each MRE contains enough food to feed one person for a day and includes an entrée, starch, snack, dessert, fruit-flavoured drink mix, and an accessory pack with essentials like coffee, candy, and hot sauce. MREs are also available in kosher and halal options, as well as vegetarian and religious-certified menus.

MREs were introduced in 1981 to replace the heavy and bulky canned MCI rations. They are designed to be easily portable, weighing between 510 and 740 grams, and have a minimum shelf life of three years. The packaging is designed to withstand parachute drops from 380 metres and non-parachute drops of 30 metres.

MREs have been continuously developed and improved since their introduction, with new entrée options, larger serving sizes, and more user-friendly packaging. In 1990, a flameless ration heater was introduced, allowing service members to heat their meals without a flame.

There is a long-held myth that the gum included in MREs contains laxatives, with red gum rumoured to be a laxative and white gum rumoured to be anti-diarrheal. However, this has been debunked by the Army Natick Soldier Systems Center, which supplies food to the military. According to David Accetta, an Army veteran and chief of public affairs at Natick, the gum serves the purpose of keeping service members' teeth clean, especially in situations where they may not have the opportunity to brush their teeth after every meal. The gum contains xylitol, which has been shown to improve tooth and oral health.

MREs replaced the canned MCI in 1981

Meal, Ready-to-Eat (MRE) is a self-contained individual ration used by the United States Armed Forces and Department of Defense. It is intended for use by American service members in combat or field conditions where other food is not available. MREs replaced the canned Meal, Combat, Individual (MCI) rations in 1981.

The history of MREs can be traced back to the Vietnam War, when problems with the canned MCI rations became apparent. The cans were heavy and bulky, making them difficult to carry and even causing injuries. They were also susceptible to corrosion in tropical environments, leading to food spoilage. The litter generated from the empty cans posed disposal challenges and created security risks, as they could be fashioned into booby traps by the enemy. Additionally, the estimated shelf life of 24 months was often inadequate due to interruptions in supply caused by weather and enemy activity.

Recognizing the limitations of the MCI rations, the Department of Defense (DoD) began developing the MRE in 1963. The goal was to create a lighter and more portable alternative to the canned MCI. This led to the introduction of the Long Range Patrol (LRP) ration in 1966, a dehydrated meal stored in a waterproof canvas pouch. However, the LRP ration had limited usage due to its higher cost compared to canned rations.

Early prototypes of the MRE involved freeze-dried and dehydrated foods, but further development was needed to create a ration that did not require rehydration. Dr. Rauno A. Lampi, Chief of Food Systems Equipment Division at the Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center, led efforts to refine the retort pouch. This resulted in the MRE, which had a longer shelf life and could be easily shipped, carried, and consumed straight out of the package.

The MRE was first introduced in 1981, and it gradually replaced the MCI rations. The transition period saw both MRE and MCI rations being issued until MCI inventories were depleted. The MRE offered several advantages over its predecessor, including lighter weight, improved portability, and a longer shelf life.

The MRE has undergone continuous development since its introduction, with improvements made to heating methods, entrée options, packaging, and nutritional content. Today, the MRE plays a crucial role in providing sustenance to service members in a variety of environments and situations, ensuring they have access to nutritious and convenient meals during their service.

MREs are also distributed to civilians during natural disasters

Meal, Ready-to-Eat (MRE) kits are distributed to civilians during natural disasters as humanitarian daily rations. The National Guard has provided MREs to the public during disasters such as Hurricanes Katrina, Ike, Maria, and Sandy, as well as the 2011 Super Outbreak.

MREs are self-contained individual rations used by the US Armed Forces and the Department of Defense. They are designed for service members in combat or field conditions where other food is unavailable. Each MRE provides about 1,200 calories and is intended to be eaten for a maximum of 21 days.

The kits include a main course, dessert or snack, spreads, powdered beverage mixes, utensils, flameless ration heaters, water-resistant matchbooks, napkins or toilet paper, and seasonings.

The gum found in MREs is a common source of speculation, with many believing it to contain laxatives. However, this is just a myth. The gum is included to help keep service members' teeth clean, especially in situations where they may not have the opportunity to brush their teeth regularly.

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