A retort pouch is a type of food packaging made from a laminate of flexible plastic and metal foils. It allows the sterile packaging of a wide variety of food and drink handled by aseptic processing.It is a form of advanced food packaging that has, in many instances, replaced the need for canning. The concept was invented by the United States Army in 1978 as a method of storing rations for troops, known as Meals, Ready-to-Eat (MREs)