It's not that they are ungrateful, it's that they can't eat the stuff. We're talking of Kosovar refugees complaining that food rations supplied to them by the United States are inedible and make children vomit.

There are reports that refugees are refusing to eat the meatless, 2,200-calorie meals supplied to them in the Humanitarian Daily Rations program. Some are even burning the unopened food packages to keep warm.

Arolelina Ajazi, an 18-year-old refugee, told reporter Matt Spetalnick of Reuters, "We know the Americans want to help, but the food is just no good."

Each package is labeled "A Food Gift from the People of the United States."

Officials of the World Food Programme have dispensed some 80,000 of the U.S. rations. The meals include items such as three-bean casserole, legume stew and vegetarian goulash. They are described as civilian versions of military ready-to-eat rations, suitable for all religions.

The usual diet of the refugees, most of whom are Moslems, is based on the staples of potatoes, rice and beans. Selvie Gashi, 27, told Reuters, "We don't eat it because the children get a fever and throw up and are going to be poisoned."

Gemmo Lodesani, head of the food mission in Kukes, says the refugees prefer the French humanitarian food rations.