ONE FINAL ITEM- SHELF LIFE OF THESE RATIONS (RCW) IS GIVEN AS 3 YEARS. I AM TOLD THAT THEY COULD LAST AS LONG AS 25 YEARS DUE TO THE NATURE OF THEIR PREPARATION. WHAT DO YOU THINK ??

I WOULD ASSUME FROM MY RCW (RATION, COLD WEATHER) DATED "8128" THAT IT WAS MADE IN 1998, SINCE THEY WERE NOT ISSUED IN 2008 . CORRECT ?

HELP- I HAVE A BUNCH OF RCWS AND THE DATE CODES ARE DRIVING ME CRAZY. FOR INSTANCE-INSTANT OATMEAL DATE CODED 8128. DOES THIS MEAN 2008? 1998? I UNDERSTAND THEY HAVE BEEN DISCONTINUED FOR A WHILE, BUT HOW TO DETERMINE THE CORRECT YEAR ?? THANKS.