MREInfo.com

I bought and MCI just to see how it was packaged, as it looked similar to the "C"-rations my father used to mention; this particular MCI looked identical to the one pictured on this site listed as from 1975...then I got curious, and opened the "B" unit, then more curious and I made myself a cup of hot cocoa to drink while I trimmed the Christmas tree...it was perfect! Then I got more curious and opened the "cinammon nut roll"...smelled good, really good, so I ate about a third...I felt fine in the morning, so I had the rest for breakfast at work, where I use a lot of MRE, British & Canadian rations. Never had a problem. O.K., even if this ration were from as late as 1980, that is still 26 years. I told a Vietnam vet friend to amuse him, and he wasn't even shocked about the age - as his unit was given surplus WWII rations in the 1960's prior to recieving the newer MCI's !! I don't know about the surplus "C" rations, but my MCI was yummy. (No I wasn't brave enough to try the Spaghetti)
Anyway, who has tried the oldest ration???
Signed,
Rational ( perhaps I should change it to irrational)

I think the oldest MCI I tried was from 1978/1979 - those are the ones pictured on the website. Even when most of the entrees and fruit sides go bad, it seems like the desserts and accessories hold up a lot longer.

The applesauce from a 13 year old MRE. Needless to say when I opened it i thought it was cinnamon applesauce. After two spoons of it I knew it wasn't

The oldest rations I've eaten SO FAR were from 1988.

And yes, I've had that applesauce, too. It oxidizes slowly and turns brown but it still tastes okay.

I do have a couple of MCIs from around 1968. Hmmmmm. Should I?

had a can of fruit cake frome a c ration
ate it last year,good taste litle dry but edible.
opened a can of cheesespread but that was like
a pice of dry wood.
have a lot off big can coociemix,corn bread and so on
but they are stil ok,by the way how to tell the
year of cand food?

CaptBob - so you have the full 1968 MCI - entree and fruit and all? I'd keep a close eye on those fruit cans. I had a few MCIs that looked fine for the longest time but then after a few more months, they started to leak out of nowhere. Maybe try them while they're still good?

Norge - I don't know about how to tell how old a can of food is unless the put some type of datecode or "best by" date on there.

One MCI has pears; the other, peaches. Both cans bulge and leak a bit.

Suffice to say, I'm not storing them near important papers, etc.

I'd toss those cans out if I were you. Or, if you are brave, open them up and get rid of the contents. The bulging and leaking will only get worse and will just create a big, stinky mess whereever they happen to be.

I found this out the hard way.

Back in 1988 I got my hands on two MCI canned rations from 1978. I ate one in it's entirety, lived to tell the tale. Meatballs in BBQ sauce, crackers and cheese. The other MCI squirted out the cheese as soon as I pierced the can with a p38.... I didn't eat that one.....

LOL, you can all enjoy telling tales in here, but don't expect me to be a part of it. Homey don't eat old MREs! Otherwise Homey sits on the shitter for too long and gets nothing done!