Warnick with no lot codes on bags

[wats6831]

I have a bunch of newer Warnick MRE with no lot codes but they have QR codes. The QR just gives the menu number like 08 or 01.

How do I date these?

[cavguy]

Can you post a pic please? I have seen some online that have a bar code, but not a QR code.

[ElevatorFan73]

QR codes? Sounds interesting, post a pic

[wats6831]

Can you post a pic please? I have seen some online that have a bar code, but not a QR code.

[housil]

Can you scan/read the code?

[cavguy]

Well, I can tell you from a visual inspection these are 100% genuine Military MRE's. I was thinking maybe there was nothing on the label of your MRE's besides a QR code, sorry. So, yes - I have seen this code before and it appeared around 2014.

The code simply just states the menu # like you found out. In order to date the MRE's it is highly likely you will have to open one up and find a date code on one of the individual items.

[wats6831]

Can you scan/read the code?

Yes my phone app reads the code. The simply has two digits "01" or "11" for what menu it is. No other information. Seems odd they stopped putting any kind of lot code on the bag.

[elandil]

Wornick is real bad about not putting codes on the outside. Just a part of things.

[Synthpeter]

That's kind of crappy actually.
They could have included more info in a datamatrix if they're printing one, but I guess they'd need to change the entire print to change the data matrix instead of just embossing the date code on the sleeve. (It would be like printing production code instead of embossing, which they obviously don't do either).
The matrix actually only says "01" (for the bag in the top left corner at least). You'd think with a 10x10 matrix (with 8x8 bits remaining after locator edges = 64 bits = 8 bytes) you could pack more stuff into it, but the remaining part is actually a couple of padding characters and the rest is error correction data (which is what allows damaged codes to be read).
One would think there's some kind of law forcing producers (military or civilian) to include some sort of date code, be it production, inspection, best before or whatever, but what do I know Perhaps it's just printed on the crate and if you don't have that you're left to guessing

I was wondering if there's any hidden information in the matrix and started trying to decode it manually, but it's so messy I just did the reverse thing and generated a matrix containing "01" and compared it to the one on the top left bag. It's identical.
http://datamatrix.kaywa.com/
Switch to content type "text" and enter 01 in the box and click "Generate" below and you'll see a matrix identical to the bag in the top left corner, so there's absolutely no hidden production data in it.

[wats6831]

That's kind of crappy actually.
They could have included more info in a datamatrix if they're printing one, but I guess they'd need to change the entire print to change the data matrix instead of just embossing the date code on the sleeve. (It would be like printing production code instead of embossing, which they obviously don't do either).
The matrix actually only says "01" (for the bag in the top left corner at least). You'd think with a 10x10 matrix (with 8x8 bits remaining after locator edges = 64 bits = 8 bytes) you could pack more stuff into it, but the remaining part is actually a couple of padding characters and the rest is error correction data (which is what allows damaged codes to be read).
One would think there's some kind of law forcing producers (military or civilian) to include some sort of date code, be it production, inspection, best before or whatever, but what do I know Perhaps it's just printed on the crate and if you don't have that you're left to guessing

I was wondering if there's any hidden information in the matrix and started trying to decode it manually, but it's so messy I just did the reverse thing and generated a matrix containing "01" and compared it to the one on the top left bag. It's identical.
http://datamatrix.kaywa.com/
Switch to content type "text" and enter 01 in the box and click "Generate" below and you'll see a matrix identical to the bag in the top left corner, so there's absolutely no hidden production data in it.

thanks dude nice analysis