2008 vs 2018

[Smitty]

Hello,

I'm curious if anyone has noticed a difference in the overlapping bag design years. Date codes only representing the last number of the year are bound to cause confusion in the hobby. Heck, what little US MREs I've had, I've eaten a 2008 that I thought was a 2018 until I checked the item lists.

I know typically this isn't an army problem, as the cases will warn them that they found an dinosaur, but for us is there a "tell"?

I thought I got lucky when I noticed my 2018 Sopakco didn't have "TM" on it, and a 2017 Ameriqual had "TM". Then I realized it was a Sopakco thing that they've been doing for awhile. Hopes dashed.

[Fallout420]

Honestly the only real way to tell is by looking at the item lists as you said. I found some from 2005 tucked away in aft steering on my ship, and I couldn’t tell if it was ‘05 or ‘15. I had to look up the menus to figure it out. It would probably be wise to lengthen the date codes by one digit since the design hasn’t changed and we have overlapping years, but knowing the Govt, that makes too much sense.

[Travelowl]

2018 should (as far as I know...I am sure the experts here will chime in) have the menu printed in French (NATO) as well as English. As I recall, that change began sometime in 2014.

[Smitty]

...and I couldn’t tell if it was ‘05 or ‘15. I had to look up the menus to figure it out. It would probably be wise to lengthen the date codes...

Luckily the bags changed in 08 so anything starting with 0 to 7 won’t be confusing until the 2020-2027 ones come out. Hope a new bag design is released.

But yeah, the 5 digit codes are convenient

[parafireboy]

2018 should (as far as I know...I am sure the experts here will chime in) have the menu printed in French (NATO) as well as English. As I recall, that change began sometime in 2014.

Yes, I believe you are correct.