Field ration eating device

{{Short description|Australian military eating utensil}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2023}}

File:ADF Can Opener.jpg displaying its length]]

__NOTOC__

The field ration eating device (FRED) is an Australian eating utensil and multi-tool that serves as a combination of a can opener, bottle opener, and spoon. It is issued to the Australian Defence Force for use with its Combat Ration One Man field rations, and was first issued around 1943.{{cite web |date=6 October 2005 |title=Farewell, old Fred |url=https://web.archive.org/web/1/http://www.defence.gov.au/news/armynews/editions/1130/letters.htm |accessdate=5 November 2007 |work=Army – The Soldiers' Newspaper 6 October 2005 Edition #1130 : Letters to the Editor |publisher=Coordination and Public Affairs; Directorate of Defence Newspapers (Australian Army)}}{{cite web |date=20 October 2005 |title=Fred's friend's left with sour taste |url=https://web.archive.org/web/1/http://www.defence.gov.au/news/armynews/editions/1131/letters.htm |accessdate=2007-11-05 |work=Army – The Soldiers' Newspaper 20 October 2005 Edition #1131 : Letters to the Editor |publisher=Australian Army}}

Its NATO Stock Number (NSN) is 7330-66-010-0931 and the item name is "opener, hand, can".{{cite web|url=https://www.iso-group.com/NSN/7330-66-010-0931|title=NSN search result: 7330-66-010-0931|publisher=ISO Group|accessdate=2023-03-13 }}{{cite web|url=https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA616391.pdf|title=Compliance of 2012/13 Combat Ration Packs to the Recommended Nutritional Criteria|publisher=Defence Science and Technology Organisation|access-date=13 March 2023|first1=Lan |last1=Bui|first2=Tracey |last2=McLaughlin|first3= Ross |last3= Coad| page=40}} It is also humorously referred to as the "fucking ridiculous eating device".{{cite web |year=2005 |title=A history of modern military rations |url=http://www.metafilter.com/45321/A-history-of-modern-military-rations |accessdate=5 November 2007 |publisher=MetaFilter:community weblog |quote=A similar device is currently employed by the Australian Army in its ration kits. It is known by the acronym "FRED" (Fucking Ridiculous Eating Device).}}{{cite web |last=Hardiman |first=Graeme |title=The Malayan Emergency. 2RAR 1956/57 |url=http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-conflicts-periods/malaya-korea/malaya-2rar.htm |accessdate=5 November 2007 |work=2RAR |publisher=Digger History: an unofficial history of the Australian & New Zealand Armed Forces |quote=I remember the spoon come tin opener that was in later years nicknamed "Fred" (f****ing ridiculous eating device)}}{{cite web |year=2007 |title=Australian Ration pack Contents |url=http://www.militarypeople.com.au/mainsite/content/view/175/50/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012083346/http://www.militarypeople.com.au/mainsite/content/view/175/50/ |archive-date=2007-10-12 |accessdate=2007-11-05 |work=Ration Pack |publisher=Australian Defence News & Opinion – MilitaryPeople.com.au}}