Feb 08 2009
FEMA/Defense Logistics Agency order 660,000 military MREs for immediate shipment to storm victims
The Defense Logistics Agency and the Federal Emergency Management Agency are shipping 660,000 military Meals Ready to Eat (MREs) to Kentucky and Arkansas storm victims. The MREs, designed for use by the military, are safe to eat and will replace the commercial meal kits that have been distributed to the storm victims.
All military MREs are safe. While many of the meals contain peanut butter, they do not contain peanut butter products recalled by the Food and Drug Administration, according to the manufacturers of the MREs. DLA’s Defense Distribution Center, New Cumberland, Pa., is arranging shipment of the meals, scheduled for delivery today.
In addition, 1.5 million self-contained packaged meals, a commercial version of the military MREs, are being readied for distribution to FEMA. Although some of these meals also contain peanut butter, the manufacturers have certified that the meals do not contain products recalled by the FDA.
The recall has prompted the Defense Logistics Agency and its industry partners to increase surveillance of the peanut butter suppliers to ensure the products are safe to consume.
The Defense Logistics Agency provides the military services, other federal agencies, and joint and allied forces with a variety of logistics, acquisition and technical services. These include procuring and distributing food, spare parts, clothing, medical supplies, construction material and fuel. Headquartered at Fort Belvoir, Va., DLA is the one source for nearly every consumable item, whether for combat readiness, emergency preparedness or day-to-day operations. For more information on DLA visit www.dla.mil
SOURCE Defense Logistics Agency