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So far I found this is what's edible. Speaking mainly of 1962-1978. Also I've heard the pineapple jam is still edible. Any other jam flavors that are as long as the canned isn't bulged?

EDIBLE:
peanut butter
coffee
crackers
cookies
most chocolate
gum
hot cocoa


Have tried the following and some were probably edible but I chewed them up to taste them and then spit them out.

QUESTIONNABLE:
fruitcake
cinnamon roll
chocolate nutroll

I’ve eaten a 1972 Menu 11 Ham, Sliced with Juices. It was perfectly preserved and didn’t make us sick, but man was it salty haha.

Wow. How long ago was that? I guess like they say it all comes down to how these are stored over the years. Thanks.

I was buying them at Army Navy surplus stores in the mid 1980s for use hiking and camping. They were starting to show their age then, and they weren't all that aged.

It would be interesting to see how they fare when stored at 33° to 40° F. controlled conditions. I bet they would be OK, if a little oxidized.

I had a 1978 "Beefsteak And Potatoes With Gravy" Can, Perfectly preserved also, but my only pictures were at night and blurry, partially because I was only opening it to preserve the contents, not actually eat it

I've heard that you can't have botulism in C-rations that were properly canned which almost all were because botulism can't live for 50 years in a can. I get conflicting stories when I look online. What is the actual danger - is there black mold and botulism? I have seen videos with mold spots on the canned cheese spread when opened. Anyone care to elaborate and share their info or experience. Thanks.

I've got a 76 or 78 B-1 unit with crackers and candy, not sure how the contents is inside but the can itself is in good condition and I'd say is probably edible

Phu_Bai wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 11, 2022 10:02 am

I've heard that you can't have botulism in C-rations that were properly canned which almost all were because botulism can't live for 50 years in a can. I get conflicting stories when I look online. What is the actual danger - is there black mold and botulism? I have seen videos with mold spots on the canned cheese spread when opened. Anyone care to elaborate and share their info or experience. Thanks.

I think (Just my ideas) Where they physically stamp the date into the can can mess with the different layers etc and lead to the cans being not so great over time

koreyyy1 wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 11, 2022 11:25 am

Phu_Bai wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 11, 2022 10:02 am

I've heard that you can't have botulism in C-rations that were properly canned which almost all were because botulism can't live for 50 years in a can. I get conflicting stories when I look online. What is the actual danger - is there black mold and botulism? I have seen videos with mold spots on the canned cheese spread when opened. Anyone care to elaborate and share their info or experience. Thanks.

I think (Just my ideas) Where they physically stamp the date into the can can mess with the different layers etc and lead to the cans being not so great over time

That and probably because they didn't intend for them to be used in the long term

Militaryration_guy wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 11, 2022 4:35 pm

koreyyy1 wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 11, 2022 11:25 am

Phu_Bai wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 11, 2022 10:02 am

I've heard that you can't have botulism in C-rations that were properly canned which almost all were because botulism can't live for 50 years in a can. I get conflicting stories when I look online. What is the actual danger - is there black mold and botulism? I have seen videos with mold spots on the canned cheese spread when opened. Anyone care to elaborate and share their info or experience. Thanks.

I think (Just my ideas) Where they physically stamp the date into the can can mess with the different layers etc and lead to the cans being not so great over time

That and probably because they didn't intend for them to be used in the long term

It's canned- intention has nothing to do with it, just design. I'm not 100% sure about the stamping, but remember canning was most likely contracted out to whoever charged the least.