Not all MREs are the same: Comparison of 3 different packers

rationboyd · Post by **rationboyd** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 6:01 am

I've gotten a few MREs recently, and was fortunate enough(or unfortunate, depending on how you see it) to get three of the same menu, each from a different packer! Not sure if that means if they are different vintages(heh) but took a bunch of pics for everyone to see.. although they basically contain the same thing, they do have some key differences...

Outer packet: Menu 12, bean and rice burrito. All pictures are all be arranged in this order: Left to Right: AmeriQual, Wornick and Sopakco.

The main entrees: Notice all the items have different ingredients and nutritional values! Tried the AmeriQual one - wasn't great, but hopefully the other two will be better

Fruit: Oddly enough, the AmeriQual packet came with a Sopakco packaged fruit and the Wornick one came with an AmeriQual(no, I did not arrange them differently!)

Crackers: They all felt the same, but again, different nutritional values

Fruit bar: Again, different packaging, not sure about the flavours though

Pound cake is from the same company, but a slightly different packaging/flavour for the Wornick one. The AmeriQual one was Vanilla while the Sopakco one was Orange, and the Wornick one is Spice

The other components not featured were more or less the same. Same peanut butter and Picante sauce. For some reason, the Wornick one did not include a pack of Picante sauce, wonder if it was a result of an error or deliberate?

The AmeriQual had a clear flameless heater while the other two had a green transparent one.

Well, hope you guys enjoyed the pics, wonder if the other menus also differ as such when packed by different companies? Unfortunately, the few other menus I have are mostly by AmeriQual.

rationboyd · Post by **rationboyd** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 8:56 am

I just had a closer look at the packets, seems that the three different packs are of different "vintages" haha.

The Sopakco is the oldest ('01) followed by the AmeriQual('02), and finally the freshest is the Wornick('03)...

Interesting..

Post by **kman** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 9:41 am

Thanks for the pics, rationboyd! I was just going to ask what years the various MREs were from but it looks like you already answered my question.

Still...that's a pretty cool that you found the same MRE menu from different years.

rationboyd · Post by **rationboyd** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 4:29 pm

tasted the second ration (sopakco). just as bad as the ameriqual one :p
ouch!
thanks goodness for the tabasco then

Post by **kman** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 4:35 pm

Yep, from what I recall of the Bean and Rice burritos, those need a hefty amount of salsa and/or tobasco!

rational · Post by **rational** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 4:37 pm

In general, I like to avoid Ameriqual as the entrees/fruits seem of lesser quality than the other 2. I've heard some say the Sopackco is the best and I agree. When shopping on eBay, or Long Life Food, I ask ahead if the items are Ameriqual or not.
My bias is just in general, becuase one of my favorites to eat even cold is the very meaty Chicken Tetrazzini, which my stash happens to be Ameriqual. Very filling good stuff.

rationboyd · Post by **rationboyd** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 7:11 pm

hmm, after sampling another few items in the packs mentioned, it turns out that the differences are limited mostly to the entrees after all. The fruit bars turn out to be the same type of commercial bars wrapped in a retort pouch, the fruits are very similar, and the crackers are well, all crackers.

Have you guys seen any from other packers, or are these three the only packers? Do all three companies release batches simultaneously or does one company get chosen to pack all the MREs for a year?

Really impressed by the MREs, they should sell these things in supermarkets as pack lunches or something haha.

Have had an unpleasant experience with one of the condiment packs though.. the tabasco bottle mysteriously leaked over all the contents, staining the tea powder, toilet paper and other stuff.. yet the bottle showed no sign of any cracks or leaks! I tapped it and nothing came out even though it was still half full...

You guys should post more pictures to accompany your excellent posts, though.. instead of waiting for K-man to upload it to his site, you can just use a free 3rd party service like the one I used, http://www.photobucket.com.

Cheers and hope to hear more updates from you guys! This forum rocks

Post by **kman** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 9:22 pm

There are only three MRE producers in the US - Ameriqual, Sopakco, and Wornick. From what I can tell, they all release the same MREs simultaneously. Here's a news article from a while back talking about the contract awards for 2005/2006:

http://www.mreinfo.com/news/index.php?p=7

That strange how you said you had a tobasco bottle leak out in one of your MREs. Another buddy of mine on these forums (DirtyDave) has had the same thing happen a lot - but I've never seen it myself.