Like many on this board I've eaten 10 year old MREs, but I've often wondered what potential dangers exist when consuming such old food stock. If the bag (retort pouch) is undamaged I would not think there is any chance of bacteria. Definitely some food becomes less appetizing, and the nutritional value can decrease but is there any real danger? Is there a military study that covers this topic?
Thanks,
-Brian
Dangers of eating really old MREs?
As I understand it, the retorting process is supposed to kill all bacteria in an MRE pouch. So *in theory*, the food should still be edible after any number of years - but its appearance, taste, and nutritional value will probably decline over time.
Keep in mind that's only "in theory". In practice, you have to allow for mistakes in the manufacturing process. So that's where you need to treat eat entree or side individually and make sure you check them for swelling or punctures and also check the contents for smell, appearance, taste, etc.
Keep in mind that's only "in theory". In practice, you have to allow for mistakes in the manufacturing process. So that's where you need to treat eat entree or side individually and make sure you check them for swelling or punctures and also check the contents for smell, appearance, taste, etc.
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German_EPA
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and again: (its the best desciption ever on MREinfo.... 
)
)kman wrote:Just practice safe MRE eating:
1. Check the packages for tears, punctures, or swelling. If you see any of this, throw the item away.
2. Open up the item (entree, side, spread, whatever) and smell it. Does it smell bad? Not dog-food bad, but spoiled-bad? If so, throw it away.
3. Look at the food (can be scary even with a good MRE but you can do it). If the coloring looks off or strange, throw the item away.
4. Take a small taste. If you taste anything strange (something "not right", sharp, bitter, sour, etc.), spit out the food and thow the item away.
5. If all that looks good, chow down!
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cat
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All good advice. I opened a vintage '98 Chili and Macaroni a few days ago; WOW had it gone bad. The color was somewhat off, no "unusually" bad smell, but it had a very strong acrid\bitter taste. Needless to say the entire stock of them was disposed of. Shame, I remember them being pretty good 5 years agokman wrote:So *in theory*...