1965 DoP - Food Packet Survival General Purpose - 1st Gen
Posted: Sun Aug 13, 2017 10:40 pm
Howdy folks, this is a first generation June 1965 date of production Food Packet, Survival, General Purpose.
The Food Packet Survival General Purpose was first produced in 1965 - replacing both the Survival Tropic, and Survival Arctic in this more compact and convenient survival ration (weighs 12 oz) - designed for all branches - suited for any climate and containing only 8% protein to reduce metabolic water requirements. It is mainly fats and carbohydrates. Contains a soup mix (chicken) and Coffee, Instant. And a Corn Flake Type 1 and Corn Flake Type 2 Bar - freeze dried Potato Cheese Bar, and a Fudge Bar.
Totaling to 16oz of water to re-hydrate those beverage mixes. This was the first generation of FPSGP where the instructions were contained inside the packet on a small sheet of paper, instead of being printed on the outside of the can. Probably better they were printed on the outer part of the can - really don't have to worry about losing that little paper then.
Using the key creates two drinking vessels that hold 6oz brimful - using the P-38 can opener creates a water/cooking vessel that holds 12 oz brimful. Both ways are efficient - if you want two cups - one for cooking and one for drinking, the key is better - if you want a 12oz brimful can for 1 at a time applications, the 12oz option is better for that.
Everything smelled kinda rank of cheese - but in short, 80% of the ration was fully consumable. The Potato Cheese Bar was surprisingly perfect - had a bland cheese flavor - a pleasant freeze dried crunch. Not complex in flavor until added to the chicken soup and the salt brought out so much flavor. Really reminded me of some Kraft easy mac cheese flavor. The potato was much like the FD potato patty in vintage brown baggers.
The corn flake bars picked up the smell of cheese - both extremely dense. Oldsmokey told me that Natick had a 10 ton press for making these old school bars - compacting as much food into one morsel as possible. It was so dense - both still fully edible. Type 1 was sweeter than Type 2. Not much in the way of notable flavor - no dairy in them from what I could tell. Just a very dense, lightly sweet corn flake bar that busted out into a huge amount on each bite. I enjoyed them - sortof a malty flavor to both - but only a hint. Really bland if anything - but not offensive to most palates either I can imagine.
The fudge bar turned - big time. The smell was horrid - a combo of cheese and chemically altered sorbitol (3rd ingredient used as a preservative and perhaps a laxative although a laxative is not efficient in a survival situation I can imagine). Just tastes and smells like a pungent and unpleasant combo of sweet, rancid, chemicals & foulness. Not edible.
The Coffee, Instant, Type II is usually a treat - this time it really tasted like the smell of the cheese bar. I am still amazed the cheese bar was fully edible and enjoyable - just smelled like rank cheese. Just cannot understand how that managed to be the case. Back to the Coffee, Instant - it was drinkable.. but not all too pleasant for how it should have been. Just a lightly acidic and bold cup of coffee that smelled and tasted like old cheese on the initial sense.
The chicken soup was fantastic! Coupled with the cheese/potato bar and you got yourself a nice little morale boost. If splashed with salt water or dehydrated - one is instructed not to consume this salty beverage. But I can imagine how much of a welcome addition it would be to have this soup if you had plenty of water and needed a nice salt boost. Savory - onion flavor. Not too "chickeny" - really a good find - and still a nice treat 52 years later.
The Food Packet Survival General Purpose has gone a number of changes and upgrades over the decades, and is still in service to this day. It is a fine survival ration - always has and always will be one that captivates my interest. And many other's too.
Well anyway, this is Steve1989 here on MREinfo -
Thanks so much for reading. I hope you all enjoyed this review. And I'll be coming back at ya with something new. (or old).
Alright cool, see ya.
The Food Packet Survival General Purpose was first produced in 1965 - replacing both the Survival Tropic, and Survival Arctic in this more compact and convenient survival ration (weighs 12 oz) - designed for all branches - suited for any climate and containing only 8% protein to reduce metabolic water requirements. It is mainly fats and carbohydrates. Contains a soup mix (chicken) and Coffee, Instant. And a Corn Flake Type 1 and Corn Flake Type 2 Bar - freeze dried Potato Cheese Bar, and a Fudge Bar.
Totaling to 16oz of water to re-hydrate those beverage mixes. This was the first generation of FPSGP where the instructions were contained inside the packet on a small sheet of paper, instead of being printed on the outside of the can. Probably better they were printed on the outer part of the can - really don't have to worry about losing that little paper then.
Using the key creates two drinking vessels that hold 6oz brimful - using the P-38 can opener creates a water/cooking vessel that holds 12 oz brimful. Both ways are efficient - if you want two cups - one for cooking and one for drinking, the key is better - if you want a 12oz brimful can for 1 at a time applications, the 12oz option is better for that.
Everything smelled kinda rank of cheese - but in short, 80% of the ration was fully consumable. The Potato Cheese Bar was surprisingly perfect - had a bland cheese flavor - a pleasant freeze dried crunch. Not complex in flavor until added to the chicken soup and the salt brought out so much flavor. Really reminded me of some Kraft easy mac cheese flavor. The potato was much like the FD potato patty in vintage brown baggers.
The corn flake bars picked up the smell of cheese - both extremely dense. Oldsmokey told me that Natick had a 10 ton press for making these old school bars - compacting as much food into one morsel as possible. It was so dense - both still fully edible. Type 1 was sweeter than Type 2. Not much in the way of notable flavor - no dairy in them from what I could tell. Just a very dense, lightly sweet corn flake bar that busted out into a huge amount on each bite. I enjoyed them - sortof a malty flavor to both - but only a hint. Really bland if anything - but not offensive to most palates either I can imagine.
The fudge bar turned - big time. The smell was horrid - a combo of cheese and chemically altered sorbitol (3rd ingredient used as a preservative and perhaps a laxative although a laxative is not efficient in a survival situation I can imagine). Just tastes and smells like a pungent and unpleasant combo of sweet, rancid, chemicals & foulness. Not edible.
The Coffee, Instant, Type II is usually a treat - this time it really tasted like the smell of the cheese bar. I am still amazed the cheese bar was fully edible and enjoyable - just smelled like rank cheese. Just cannot understand how that managed to be the case. Back to the Coffee, Instant - it was drinkable.. but not all too pleasant for how it should have been. Just a lightly acidic and bold cup of coffee that smelled and tasted like old cheese on the initial sense.
The chicken soup was fantastic! Coupled with the cheese/potato bar and you got yourself a nice little morale boost. If splashed with salt water or dehydrated - one is instructed not to consume this salty beverage. But I can imagine how much of a welcome addition it would be to have this soup if you had plenty of water and needed a nice salt boost. Savory - onion flavor. Not too "chickeny" - really a good find - and still a nice treat 52 years later.
The Food Packet Survival General Purpose has gone a number of changes and upgrades over the decades, and is still in service to this day. It is a fine survival ration - always has and always will be one that captivates my interest. And many other's too.
Well anyway, this is Steve1989 here on MREinfo -
Thanks so much for reading. I hope you all enjoyed this review. And I'll be coming back at ya with something new. (or old).
Alright cool, see ya.
