Hello all

[SpikNik]

Hello. New member, first post an’ all that so sit back and be prepared for a dose of “it’s-probably-obvious-but-I’m gonna-ask-anyway”.

Firstly, I’ve been reading about MREs on this site for a couple of weeks now, and I’d just like to say a collective thank you for all the good info I’ve found. The site in general and the forum posts have been really helpful.

I do have some questions though, so here goes…

There is a lot of info on the site about how good certain menus or MREs in general might taste after XX number of years. I have some old (well, I think they’re old anyway) MREs, and although I don’t expect them to taste stunning, my question is this. Is there any safety aspect to consider? Will they make me sick? To give as much info as possible, I have 10 MREs, an assorted mix of menus, which from the menu listing on this site I have dated from between 1996 and 2007. However, I also read that in 2003 date stamps were added to the outer bag, and as none of these have it, I assume that means my mix falls between 1996 and 2002. There doesn’t appear to be any swelling in the bags, although I’m not sure how subtle that might need to be. The only variables are that a MENU 2 BONELESS PORK CHOP and a MENU 14 CHICKEN CAVATELLI seem to have slightly more air in the bag that the others when squeezed, and I don’t know if it’s my imagination but I’m convinced that a MENU 12 CHEESE TORTELLINI seems to have more stuff in the bag than the others.

Anyway, to clarify that question. Does slightly more air equal swelling, or is it a case of “if it’s swelling, you’ll know about it”, or is it just the individual entrees and packets that need to be watched for swelling? In general assuming all seems well with those ages, should I consider them safe? Any other eat it/don’t eat it tips be would be appreciated.
Next question. As mentioned, I have a wide mix, and from info read on the site I know I could date them better by seeing the stamps on the individual items. The question is, does the outer bag itself have anything to do with the longevity or freshness, or is it just for convenient packaging? Can I open ‘em up, check some dates, and just reseal with tape without affecting the food?

I’ve just received my second purchase, a mix of entrees only from 2005/2006, and it brings up another question. All of the entree boxes from the old batch are in the same format, style and type of printing. These new ones seem different, some have nutrition info printed in a much smaller box, some seem to have it added as a kind of digital print in a smaller box, and one of them is totally different (Beef enchilada in sauce) with a whole side containing instructions on “do’s and don’ts for cold weather nutrition”. Is this normal for newer entree boxes?

Final question. The seller padded out the box with a couple of small boxes of apple jelly and grape jelly. Dark green packet, 1oz, both marked with “THERMO PAC STONE MOUNTAIN GA 30083”. No date stamp, unless it’s the tiny one actually stamped rather than printed on the outer edge of each packet (example 5240B4TP). So, just out of interest I was curious, are they old parts from used MREs, general rations, or something else?

Well, that’s all from me for now. Thank you again for the info already here, it’s been invaluable, and if anyone has a moment to help with my questions, I’d be very grateful.

PS. Bit of an update, I thought I’d try to answer my own question so I opened the MENU 14 CHICKEN CAVATELLI that seemed to have more air in it. There seems to be no swelling at all on the individual items so I suppose that answers that, but if anyone can confirm it would be appreciated.

PS,….again. You don’t wanna know how much I paid for the first batch of old MREs! Well, it won’t be happening again, not with the info I’ve learned from you.

OK, gonna stop typing now...

[kman]

Hello. New member, first post an’ all that so sit back and be prepared for a dose of “it’s-probably-obvious-but-I’m gonna-ask-anyway”.

No problem, SpikNik. Welcome to the forums and ask away!

There is a lot of info on the site about how good certain menus or MREs in general might taste after XX number of years. I have some old (well, I think they’re old anyway) MREs, and although I don’t expect them to taste stunning, my question is this. Is there any safety aspect to consider? Will they make me sick?

It's not so much "will" they make you sick but "could" they make you sick and the answer is yes. Then again, any food you eat could make you sick if it hasn't been stored or prepared properly. While MREs might seem to be more at risk because they're usually stored for longer periods than regular food, they also go through more preparation to make sure they'll be able to last so long. So you get higher temps/pressure while packaging, more stringent packaging requirements, stronger seals, etc. Just compare what it takes to rip a top off a Hormel microwave meal vs. tearing through two layers of mylar and one layer of foil on an MRE entree bag.

Here are my main rules to eating MREs when you're unsure if they're still "good":

1. Examine the package for swelling/tears/punctures. If you see any, discard it.
2. Open the item. Smell it. Does it smell off/bad/not right? If so, discard it.
3. Look at the food. Some MRE parts can lose coloring over time and with heat but an still be edible. For example, cheese spread might no longer be bright yellow, applesauce might be darker in color. But if the colors look strange/unnatural, discard it.
4. Take a small taste. Don't swallow...just taste. Does anything taste wrong or not right? If so, spit out the food and discard the rest.
5. If everything above passes muster, chow down!

To give as much info as possible, I have 10 MREs, an assorted mix of menus, which from the menu listing on this site I have dated from between 1996 and 2007. However, I also read that in 2003 date stamps were added to the outer bag, and as none of these have it, I assume that means my mix falls between 1996 and 2002.

If you don't have a date stamp on the outside of the bag, you really only have two ways to figure out how old the MREs are:

1. Open it up and check out the datecodes on the parts
or
2. Compare the menu number and name to the menu lists here:

http://www.mreinfo.com/mre-menus.html

For example, if you had a #16 Thai Chicken, you can narrow that menu down to either 1999 or 2000 because those are the only years when that entree used that menu number (it moved to menu #6 for the next few years).

There doesn’t appear to be any swelling in the bags, although I’m not sure how subtle that might need to be. The only variables are that a MENU 2 BONELESS PORK CHOP and a MENU 14 CHICKEN CAVATELLI seem to have slightly more air in the bag that the others when squeezed, and I don’t know if it’s my imagination but I’m convinced that a MENU 12 CHEESE TORTELLINI seems to have more stuff in the bag than the others.

When we talk about swelling of MRE parts, we're really talking about the swelling of the actual food item - the entree pouch. The MRE bags themselves might "swell" I think that mainly just air leaking into the bag. And since the bags aren't supposed to be airtight/vacuum packed, I don't think this indicates anything to be worried about. I've opened up brand new cases of MREs and each MRE I pull out has had almost every bit of air squeezed out of it (because they pack them in so tight). But if I let one of those MREs sit out for a while, it'll slowly get air back in it.

I have seen some comments from members here about how they opened up an MRE bag and were rewarded with a nasty surprise such as a burst entree that splattered goo all over the inside of the bag. But since the MRE bags aren't airtight, I don't think would cause any undue swelling that might tip you off to a problem.

Anyway, to clarify that question. Does slightly more air equal swelling, or is it a case of “if it’s swelling, you’ll know about it”, or is it just the individual entrees and packets that need to be watched for swelling?

Just the individual entrees and packets need to be watched...that's my vote.

Next question. As mentioned, I have a wide mix, and from info read on the site I know I could date them better by seeing the stamps on the individual items. The question is, does the outer bag itself have anything to do with the longevity or freshness, or is it just for convenient packaging? Can I open ‘em up, check some dates, and just reseal with tape without affecting the food?

For the most part, I think you'd be ok opening up the MRE bag and then resealing it. Personally, I wouldn't want to do that for *all* my MREs because depending on how you store them, an incomplete seal might make it easier for insects or spiders to get in. While most of the entree parts should be protected by their inner packaging, there might be some parts like candy bars, M&Ms, etc. that would be easier to get to.

But I don't think opening the bag compromises the life of the contents beyond that.

I’ve just received my second purchase, a mix of entrees only from 2005/2006, and it brings up another question. All of the entree boxes from the old batch are in the same format, style and type of printing. These new ones seem different, some have nutrition info printed in a much smaller box, some seem to have it added as a kind of digital print in a smaller box, and one of them is totally different (Beef enchilada in sauce) with a whole side containing instructions on “do’s and don’ts for cold weather nutrition”. Is this normal for newer entree boxes?

I would say it's normal. There are three (four if you count MREStar) different manufacturers of MRE entrees (and even more of crackers, sides, etc.), and each one has a slightly different look to their printing. Once vendor (Ameriqual?) even uses what looks like a really crappy dot matrix printer sometimes. There's just no telling with the box graphics. As long as you have nutritional information on the box, you can be assured that it's from at least 1996 or later.

Final question. The seller padded out the box with a couple of small boxes of apple jelly and grape jelly. Dark green packet, 1oz, both marked with “THERMO PAC STONE MOUNTAIN GA 30083”. No date stamp, unless it’s the tiny one actually stamped rather than printed on the outer edge of each packet (example 5240B4TP). So, just out of interest I was curious, are they old parts from used MREs, general rations, or something else?

Those sound like packets from much older MREs. The "5204" part of that code makes me think it's from 1995 since they were still using the dark green packets then. But I suppose it could be from 1985.

Lots of questions - I hope that helps!

[SpikNik]

Wow, thanks for all of that, all questions answered.

I now already have this selection of MREs, and a case of British 24h packs on the way, so my next goal is to try to get some German EPAs, just to look at them really as they seem quite different. I will check ebay and perhaps post on here in the trade/sell section in case some of the German members might have some to sell.

[kman]

So where'd you score a case of British rations? What menus are you getting?

[SpikNik]

Got the British ones from, well, Britain, best place for 'em really!
As for menus, don't know, but a selection, a friend is mixing up a case so I don't get all the same ones.

Shipping is a factor, but not so much as I am in Spain, which is why I'm hoping that getting some EPAs shouldn't be too expensive.

I've actually seen a couple of posts on here and links to ebay referring to Spanish ration packs. I suppose I should have a look at them really, but they just don't seem as interesting as the MREs or British/German/French. I might get 1 though on ebay just to see.

[housil]

Wow, thanks for all of that, all questions answered.

so my next goal is to try to get some German EPAs, just to look at them really as they seem quite different. I will check ebay and perhaps post on here in the trade/sell section in case some of the German members might have some to sell.

Ja!

Ask jubifahrer here, he will sale them and also ship them to spain. So you don´t have to bid at ebay and pay horrible prices!