Who has eaten the oldest MRE (or MCI !)

[rational]

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)

[kman]

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.

[mw509]

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

[CaptBob]

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?

[norge]

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?

[kman]

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.

[CaptBob]

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.

[kman]

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.

[Ration Man]

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.....

[DIRTYDAVE]

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!