Oldest MRE or oldest other food you have eaten

[CaptBob]

The oldest MRE I've eaten was probably a Meatballs and BBQ sauce from around 1987... I forgot exactly what year it was produced. Still really good... although my favorite of the old entrees was the Pork with rice in BBQ sauce... YUM!

I just had an LRP yesterday that was produced either in the late 1970s or early 1980s---Chicken Stew. Excellent and very filling! My biggest mistake was trying a very small piece of the chocolate bar---AGGGH!

I still have lots of old MREs.... anyone for Escalloped Potatoes and Ham?

[erad67]

When were the C-rations discontinued? I had some my first boy scout camp out in the early or mid-80's.

I ate some items from some dark brown bag MREs, probably made about 1995, last December. They had a kind of ... chemical, I guess, after-taste and I didn't feel exactly 100% physically afterward, but they were edible.

[housil]

When were the C-rations discontinued? I had some my first boy scout camp out in the early or mid-80's.

I was eating C-Rations in 1982 REFORGER, at 1988 REFORGER we saw brown MREs bags for the very first time.

[mreheater72]

When were the C-rations discontinued? I had some my first boy scout camp out in the early or mid-80's.

I guess the last MCIs were packed 1980, I have a B-2 UNIT from September 1980. But old stocks were issued to the troops until depeleted, that was I guess 1983 or 1984.

So long mreheater72

[kman]

mreheater72, from what I've read, there were some soldiers in Desert Storm I (1991) who were issued old stock MCIs to eat.

[mreheater72]

mreheater72, from what I've read, there were some soldiers in Desert Storm I (1991) who were issued old stock MCIs to eat.

That´s new to me ! But for what reason they issued old MCIs to troops so late? Was there a shortage of MREs?

[kman]

They were probably just trying to get rid of old stock...either that or some depot was out of MREs but had old MCIs and so they decided to use those.

[keystone]

Recently, I've been trying some older military MREs that were given to me. These had been kept in air-conditioned storage except for a few days just before I got them in February 2009. The dates range from 1996 - 1999, based on date codes and description/menu numbers. So far, I've eaten two from late 1996.

The first was Pork Chow Mein. I was quite cautious, checking for swollen packages and leaks. Everything was fine. The chow mein noodles seemed to suffer no degradation. I've never had the MRE Pork Chow Mein before so I'm not sure if the taste has changed. The flavors seemed muted, but maybe a little spicy. Otherwise, it tasted fine. Not sour or bitter, and the water chestnuts were crunchy. When I took out the commercial pack of M&Ms and set them down, brown dust came out the package. I opened it and poured it onto a plate. As others have described, the candy had deteriorated to a heap of light brown powder and fragments of the candy coating shell. The taste was really off - old and musty would be the best way to describe it. Crackers tasted fine, and the cheese spread, while maybe not as creamy as a fresh package, was of normal color and taste. I did knead the cheese package before opening it. The bottle of Tobasco sauce had turned brown. I think there was a chocolate covered cookie in there, and it tasted a little old but not really bad. The heater was slow to start up (and this may be normal for the old style heaters), but it did produce much heat after a few minutes. The beverage powder made a good tasting drink.

Overall, the meal was passable and certainly edible, except for the desserts. Not bad for a meal cooked almost twelve and a half years ago.

The second one was Pasta and Vegetables in Tomato Sauce, eaten for lunch last Friday, March 2009. This one tasted good, though maybe the flavors were again muted. Perhaps this is also normal for this dish. The candy, a package of Charms, had leaked some sticky substance all over the inside of the bag and I had to forcibly pull the components of the meal out. Once everything was rinsed off, the other contents were fine. The package of Charms is now soft and squishy. I haven't tried opening it yet. The apple sauce was maybe a slight shade darker than a current MRE but tasted normal. The Tobasco sauce has turned brown and the gum appears to have deteriorated. The beverage powder made a normal tasting drink. The heater again was slow to start (old style) but produced more than sufficient heat to warm the meal. The crackers and peanut butter (kneaded before opening) seemed as fresh as a new MRE. I thought a spoon hadn't been included, but a second inspection revealed it stuck to the inside of the bag - thanks to the Charms. Again, a very passable twelve and a half year old meal.

I was pleasantly surprised to find the old MREs still in such good condition. I opened the first one with much concern, but now I'm more confident about eating the older ones. I'll still check each component package before opening, but it gives me confidence that my stock of 2008 production will last for years in storage.

[mreheater72]

Recently, I've been trying some older military MREs that were given to me. These had been kept in air-conditioned storage except for a few days just before I got them in February 2009. The dates range from 1996 - 1999, based on date codes and description/menu numbers. So far, I've eaten two from late 1996...

Thanks for the awesome and very detailed review ! I made the same experience with the CHARMS like you, see here:

viewtopic.php?f=10&t=2582

So long mreheater72

[kman]

Nice reviews, keystone! I do kind of miss that Pork Chow Mein MRE. The way you describe it sounds like the last one I ate a few years ago - it wasn't 12 years old - maybe just a 3 years old. The taste you describe is right on - a slightly spicy taste and crunchy water chestnuts.

As for the Pasta w/ Vegetables, that one tastes bland when it's fresh so I don't think you were experiencing any degradation. I usually like to throw a lot of salt or tobasco sauce in it to give it a little bite.