Different packing companies

Discussions about US MREs and other US rations
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TerraParzel
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Different packing companies

Post by TerraParzel » Fri Mar 16, 2018 6:33 pm

HI

Does anyone know if there is a big difference in the US mre's depending on the different packing company's? (Ameriqual, Sopakco, and Wornick)

Is the food product inside all the same?

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DonJa
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Location: Commonwealth of Virginia

Re: Different packing companies

Post by DonJa » Fri Mar 16, 2018 7:05 pm

TerraParzel wrote:HI

Does anyone know if there is a big difference in the US mre's depending on the different packing company's? (Ameriqual, Sopakco, and Wornick)

Is the food product inside all the same?
Oh yes- there is a quality difference. Those 3 companies supply pretty much the same goods in civilian rations as they do in the DoD counterparts. There is some variability in item and menu type, but not much.

There are numerous other threads around discussing that same topic. Here's one:
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=8677

TerraParzel
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Re: Different packing companies

Post by TerraParzel » Fri Mar 16, 2018 7:22 pm

Thanks Don

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Woodland
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Re: Different packing companies

Post by Woodland » Sun Mar 25, 2018 11:47 am

TerraParzel wrote:HI

Does anyone know if there is a big difference in the US mre's depending on the different packing company's? (Ameriqual, Sopakco, and Wornick)

Is the food product inside all the same?
There are differences.Sometimes very significant ones.
I have tried the same menus from Ameriqual,Sopakco and Wornick.I wrote about my findings earlier.
What struck me most was the size of the Pork Rib Patty and the Maple Sausage Patty ,ranging from 74 grams to 102 grams.
viewtopic.php?f=10&t=6327

or here,"Wornick menus have less calories?":
viewtopic.php?t=5539&p=41409#p41409

This is my limited experience with MREs.These are my subjective observations:

My number 3:Ameriqual: Very effective at saving space.They use an extra inner plastic bag that is sometimes so tightly packed,that items look like garbage.I
have found crackers that were bent about 40°. I'll try to find pics. One time the maple syrup packet was burst.
There is a big difference in the taste between Ameriqual's Chicken Pesto and the other's. I've had one from Ameriqual this week (from
2014) and I had to force myself to eat it.Not the first time.Wornick and Sopakco was much much tastier,I loved them.But other menus
were good.My fav was Veggie Lasagna.
Interestingly,the only two bad items I've had so far were both in an MRE by Ameriqual,altough not produced by them.

Number 2 on my list: Sopakco: I call them the standard MRE. Solid,good quality packaging,tasty.No bad experience so far.

My number 1 is: Wornick: Fine printed entree boxes,fine cardboard material.Good sign in my view.No damaged items or quality problems so far.Sometimes a lil'
bit less calories.Very good taste.Like Sopakco DeLuxe.

As I said before, these are my subjective views.

I've formed the text but it doesn't look good when posted...Sorry.
Last edited by Woodland on Mon Mar 26, 2018 12:05 pm, edited 1 time in total.

cavguy
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Re: Different packing companies

Post by cavguy » Sun Mar 25, 2018 2:39 pm

Woodland wrote:
TerraParzel wrote:HI

Does anyone know if there is a big difference in the US mre's depending on the different packing company's? (Ameriqual, Sopakco, and Wornick)

Is the food product inside all the same?
There are differences.Sometimes very significant ones.
I have tried the same menus from Ameriqual,Sopakco and Wornick.I wrote about my findings earlier.
What struck me most was the size of the Pork Rib Patty and the Maple Sausage Patty ,ranging from 74 grams to 102 grams.
viewtopic.php?f=10&t=6327

or here,"Wornick menus have less calories?":
viewtopic.php?t=5539&p=41409#p41409

This is my limited experience with MREs.These are my subjective observations:

My number 3:Ameriqual: Very effective at saving space.They use an extra inner plastic bag that is sometimes so tightly packed,that items look like garbage.I
have found crackers that were bent about 40°. I'll try to find pics. One time the maple syrup packet was burst.
There is a big difference in the taste between Ameriqual's Chicken Pesto and the other's. I've had one from Ameriqual this week (from
2014) and I had to force myself to eat it.Not the first time.Wornick and Sopakco was much much tastier,I loved them.But other menus
were good.My fav was Veggie Lasagna.
Interestingly,the only two bad items I've had so far were both in an MRE by Ameriqual,altough not produced by them.

Number 2 on my list: Sopakco: A call them the standard MRE. Solid,good quality packaging,tasty.No bad experience so far.

My number 1 is: Wornick: Fine printed entree boxes,fine cardboard material.Good sign in my view.No damaged items or quality problems so far.Sometimes a lil'
bit less calories.Very good taste.Like Sopakco DeLuxe.

As I said before, these are my subjective views.

I've formed the text so nice but it doesn't look good when posted...Sorry.
Well put! My opinion parallels your exactly!

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Woodland
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Re: Different packing companies

Post by Woodland » Mon Mar 26, 2018 2:47 pm

I could have taken more pics like these...There was a spoon one time, it's handle by the bowl (head?) was curved.Looked like the tortilla in the first pic.I think you can imagine that :-) How did they do that? :-)
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Woodland
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Re: Different packing companies

Post by Woodland » Mon Mar 26, 2018 2:57 pm

The attachment DSC01991.JPG is no longer available
DSC01991.JPG

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Woodland
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Re: Different packing companies

Post by Woodland » Mon Mar 26, 2018 2:58 pm

AmqMaple1.jpg

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