MRE Dating

[NateP]

So, another newbie question -- how do you date MREs?

I know the general scheme - 5186 would be the 186th day, but what about the year? It could be 2005, 2015, even 1995.

I assume the menu number and content would help you date it?

[Travelowl]

Ha, I read the subject line and thought this would be about impressing a potential partner with a candlelit dinner of MREs!!! What a date night meal!!

[NateP]

*lights candles*

*shakes grape beverage base packet*

*pour into glass with water*

clink clink stir

*stare into date's eyes*

More beverage my dear?

*breaks off chocolate covered cookie and feeds it to her seductively*

FRH hisssssssss

Oh, our dinner is done love!

*date swoons*

[BTemple]

So, another newbie question -- how do you date MREs?

I know the general scheme - 5186 would be the 186th day, but what about the year? It could be 2005, 2015, even 1995.

I assume the menu number and content would help you date it?

It would be fairly easy to differentiate between those years of an MRE though due to bag design changing a fair bit over time.
The only problem could be with individual items you find... a tan pack of Starch Candy (Chuckles) that says something like 3267 as the date code could technically be 2003 or 2013.
The Canadian IMP date code system is better because it is 5 digits and thus has the last 2 digits of the year present, which takes any potential guess-work out of the equation.

[RockyRaab]

I SO wanted to make a suggestion about eHominy...

[NateP]

I SO wanted to make a suggestion about eHominy

Good thing all the meats in MRES are quite . . . Tinder!