Date code TOTM

Discussions about US MREs and other US rations
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Icon
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Date code TOTM

Post by Icon » Sun Aug 07, 2022 3:48 pm

Going thru my MREs I noticed some cases were going on 10 years old, so thought the older ones need to be consumed. Then I found a case of TOTMs and wondering about the date.
Most posts mention the code as a 4 digit number, but mine (on the case) shows 15106, which I take to mean April 16 of 2015.

EDIT to ask, is there a shelf life for the heaters? The only use I have for them is using in soda bottles, but if they don't work after 10 -15 years, I will probably discard them.

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Amelieee1
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Re: Date code TOTM

Post by Amelieee1 » Sun Aug 07, 2022 8:50 pm

Icon wrote:
Sun Aug 07, 2022 3:48 pm
Going thru my MREs I noticed some cases were going on 10 years old, so thought the older ones need to be consumed. Then I found a case of TOTMs and wondering about the date.
Most posts mention the code as a 4 digit number, but mine (on the case) shows 15106, which I take to mean April 16 of 2015.

EDIT to ask, is there a shelf life for the heaters? The only use I have for them is using in soda bottles, but if they don't work after 10 -15 years, I will probably discard them.
Sometimes they work if you give them a shot of salt. sometimes not. hit and miss as they get old
Check out my ORP menu spreadsheet: https://bit.ly/2NqUFRX | I have: | British 24HR Box Rations | French RCIRs | Type I EPA |Danish Rations

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Militaryration_guy
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Re: Date code TOTM

Post by Militaryration_guy » Mon Aug 08, 2022 9:35 am

Amelieee1 wrote:
Sun Aug 07, 2022 8:50 pm
Icon wrote:
Sun Aug 07, 2022 3:48 pm
Going thru my MREs I noticed some cases were going on 10 years old, so thought the older ones need to be consumed. Then I found a case of TOTMs and wondering about the date.
Most posts mention the code as a 4 digit number, but mine (on the case) shows 15106, which I take to mean April 16 of 2015.

EDIT to ask, is there a shelf life for the heaters? The only use I have for them is using in soda bottles, but if they don't work after 10 -15 years, I will probably discard them.
Sometimes they work if you give them a shot of salt. sometimes not. hit and miss as they get old
I've had Sopacko Surepak heaters that are 6 years old and take off without salt but I've had 1 year old heaters that are duds even with salt.
A random hillbilly guy intrested in in military rations from across the world :arrow: :mrgreen: :arrow: :!: :?:

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Tedster
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Date code

Post by Tedster » Mon Aug 08, 2022 4:39 pm

I never had much luck with them when they get old, don't buy "fresh" rations, so I just pitch them. When they work, they work great.

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Amelieee1
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Re: Date code TOTM

Post by Amelieee1 » Mon Aug 08, 2022 8:28 pm

Militaryration_guy wrote:
Mon Aug 08, 2022 9:35 am
Amelieee1 wrote:
Sun Aug 07, 2022 8:50 pm
Icon wrote:
Sun Aug 07, 2022 3:48 pm
Going thru my MREs I noticed some cases were going on 10 years old, so thought the older ones need to be consumed. Then I found a case of TOTMs and wondering about the date.
Most posts mention the code as a 4 digit number, but mine (on the case) shows 15106, which I take to mean April 16 of 2015.

EDIT to ask, is there a shelf life for the heaters? The only use I have for them is using in soda bottles, but if they don't work after 10 -15 years, I will probably discard them.
Sometimes they work if you give them a shot of salt. sometimes not. hit and miss as they get old
I've had Sopacko Surepak heaters that are 6 years old and take off without salt but I've had 1 year old heaters that are duds even with salt.
For that i would say you are using them wrong. Dont add too much water and make sure to knead the water into the pads. dont forget it also needs oxygen to work
Check out my ORP menu spreadsheet: https://bit.ly/2NqUFRX | I have: | British 24HR Box Rations | French RCIRs | Type I EPA |Danish Rations

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housil
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Re: Date code TOTM

Post by housil » Tue Aug 09, 2022 7:01 am

Icon wrote:
Sun Aug 07, 2022 3:48 pm
EDIT to ask, is there a shelf life for the heaters? The only use I have for them is using in soda bottles, but if they don't work after 10 -15 years, I will probably discard them.
Check out this:

Icon wrote:
Sun Aug 07, 2022 3:48 pm
Most posts mention the code as a 4 digit number, but mine (on the case) shows 15106, which I take to mean April 16 of 2015.
There never was a 5 digit date code. So 15106 could either be 1510 - without the 6 but there isn´t a 510th day of a year so you are right, it suppose to be 5106 what was April 16, 2015.

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Militaryration_guy
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Re: Date code TOTM

Post by Militaryration_guy » Tue Aug 09, 2022 10:29 am

Amelieee1 wrote:
Mon Aug 08, 2022 8:28 pm
Militaryration_guy wrote:
Mon Aug 08, 2022 9:35 am
Amelieee1 wrote:
Sun Aug 07, 2022 8:50 pm


Sometimes they work if you give them a shot of salt. sometimes not. hit and miss as they get old
I've had Sopacko Surepak heaters that are 6 years old and take off without salt but I've had 1 year old heaters that are duds even with salt.
For that i would say you are using them wrong. Dont add too much water and make sure to knead the water into the pads. dont forget it also needs oxygen to work
So perhaps besides adding water to the fill line, laying the hater on it's side quickly to let water hit all the pockets and flip the top shut that I should instead blow air into it for a second, I used to put the pouches in the heater but now I put them outside the heater and flip/ rotate them.
A random hillbilly guy intrested in in military rations from across the world :arrow: :mrgreen: :arrow: :!: :?:

Icon
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Re: Date code TOTM

Post by Icon » Thu Aug 11, 2022 9:08 pm

housil wrote:
Tue Aug 09, 2022 7:01 am
Icon wrote:
Sun Aug 07, 2022 3:48 pm
EDIT to ask, is there a shelf life for the heaters? The only use I have for them is using in soda bottles, but if they don't work after 10 -15 years, I will probably discard them.
Check out this:

Icon wrote:
Sun Aug 07, 2022 3:48 pm
Most posts mention the code as a 4 digit number, but mine (on the case) shows 15106, which I take to mean April 16 of 2015.
There never was a 5 digit date code. So 15106 could either be 1510 - without the 6 but there isn´t a 510th day of a year so you are right, it suppose to be 5106 what was April 16, 2015.
Interesting video.. thanks.. do you know if the silver bag he had was mylar, or something else???

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housil
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Re: Date code TOTM

Post by housil » Fri Aug 12, 2022 3:04 pm

Icon wrote:
Thu Aug 11, 2022 9:08 pm
Interesting video.. thanks.. do you know if the silver bag he had was mylar, or something else???
You can ask RockyRaab, he is a member at forums:
memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=1714

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Re: Date code TOTM

Post by Giantdeer » Sat Aug 13, 2022 5:33 am

Intresting vid , thanks for sharing.

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