This is a review on the on on the right. The UN-labeled white beige canvas packaging.
Jelly bar is fully edible, they hold up literally forever (as long as they stay dry and are not contaminated by other items in a ration that have gone heavily rancid).. I've eaten maybe 5 or 6 of them so far but this one goes into my collection.
Fruit bar looked terrible.. but I still touched by tongue to it a couple times to taste it. Tasted of prunes and was sweet.. still tasted edible and smelled fine but because of the appearance I couldn't bring myself to eat it. Sorry guys!
The abandon ship food tablets have pyridoxine hydrochloride (B-6) in them.. and that stuff goes bad after 20 years max and this was no exception. Smelled and tasted like old vitamins. A no go, unfortunately.
The gum goes on my display.
The matches still strike 100% and also go on my display.
Hope you folks like the pictures!
I gathered some detailed information on this Ration.. here is that specific info: By Institute of Medicine (U.S.). Committee on Military Nutrition Research, Richard T. Travis
The purpose of the Food Packet, Survival, Abandon Ship is to sustain life until rescue or until other food is available. It is supplied to the life saving craft aboard ships for survivors who have abandoned ship. Experience with ocean disasters has shown other supplies, such as life saving equipment and drinking water, to be more critical for surviving than food.
As currently specified, the Food Packet, Survival, Abandon Ship consists of 2 starch jelly bars, four mint tablets, chewing gum, and matches, and is sealed in a waterproof bag. 15 food packets and a cigarette packet are packaged in a carton and 8 cartons are packed in a shipping case.
Each packet provides 475 calories. It is issued upon the basis of 1 packet per man, per day. The components have maximum stability in storage for on-deck craft under all climatic conditions. In fact, since the Navy has indicated that this food must be stable at 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60 degrees Celsius) for one month, even the starch jelly bar component must be specifically formulated. Canned water in limited quantities or water making equipment is provided on the life saving craft.
Food Packets per carton: 15
Carton/case: 8
Weight/Case: 48lbs
Weight/Carton: 5.75 lbs
Weight/Food Packet: 5.2 oz
Cube/Case: 1.36 Cubic Feet
Cube/Carton: 0.16 Cubic Feet
Calories/Food Packet: Approximately 475 Calories
Specification: MIL-F-16895
NSN: 8970-00-299-1395
