Date code TOTM

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Going thru my MREs I noticed some cases were going on 10 years old, so thought the older ones need to be consumed. Then I found a case of TOTMs and wondering about the date.
Most posts mention the code as a 4 digit number, but mine (on the case) shows 15106, which I take to mean April 16 of 2015.

EDIT to ask, is there a shelf life for the heaters? The only use I have for them is using in soda bottles, but if they don't work after 10 -15 years, I will probably discard them.

[Amelieee1]

Going thru my MREs I noticed some cases were going on 10 years old, so thought the older ones need to be consumed. Then I found a case of TOTMs and wondering about the date.
Most posts mention the code as a 4 digit number, but mine (on the case) shows 15106, which I take to mean April 16 of 2015.

EDIT to ask, is there a shelf life for the heaters? The only use I have for them is using in soda bottles, but if they don't work after 10 -15 years, I will probably discard them.

Sometimes they work if you give them a shot of salt. sometimes not. hit and miss as they get old

[Militaryration_guy]

Going thru my MREs I noticed some cases were going on 10 years old, so thought the older ones need to be consumed. Then I found a case of TOTMs and wondering about the date.
Most posts mention the code as a 4 digit number, but mine (on the case) shows 15106, which I take to mean April 16 of 2015.

EDIT to ask, is there a shelf life for the heaters? The only use I have for them is using in soda bottles, but if they don't work after 10 -15 years, I will probably discard them.

Sometimes they work if you give them a shot of salt. sometimes not. hit and miss as they get old

I've had Sopacko Surepak heaters that are 6 years old and take off without salt but I've had 1 year old heaters that are duds even with salt.

[Tedster]

I never had much luck with them when they get old, don't buy "fresh" rations, so I just pitch them. When they work, they work great.

[Amelieee1]

Going thru my MREs I noticed some cases were going on 10 years old, so thought the older ones need to be consumed. Then I found a case of TOTMs and wondering about the date.
Most posts mention the code as a 4 digit number, but mine (on the case) shows 15106, which I take to mean April 16 of 2015.

EDIT to ask, is there a shelf life for the heaters? The only use I have for them is using in soda bottles, but if they don't work after 10 -15 years, I will probably discard them.

Sometimes they work if you give them a shot of salt. sometimes not. hit and miss as they get old

I've had Sopacko Surepak heaters that are 6 years old and take off without salt but I've had 1 year old heaters that are duds even with salt.

For that i would say you are using them wrong. Dont add too much water and make sure to knead the water into the pads. dont forget it also needs oxygen to work

[housil]

EDIT to ask, is there a shelf life for the heaters? The only use I have for them is using in soda bottles, but if they don't work after 10 -15 years, I will probably discard them.

Check out this:

Most posts mention the code as a 4 digit number, but mine (on the case) shows 15106, which I take to mean April 16 of 2015.

There never was a 5 digit date code. So 15106 could either be 1510 - without the 6 but there isn´t a 510th day of a year so you are right, it suppose to be 5106 what was April 16, 2015.

[Militaryration_guy]

Sometimes they work if you give them a shot of salt. sometimes not. hit and miss as they get old

I've had Sopacko Surepak heaters that are 6 years old and take off without salt but I've had 1 year old heaters that are duds even with salt.

For that i would say you are using them wrong. Dont add too much water and make sure to knead the water into the pads. dont forget it also needs oxygen to work

So perhaps besides adding water to the fill line, laying the hater on it's side quickly to let water hit all the pockets and flip the top shut that I should instead blow air into it for a second, I used to put the pouches in the heater but now I put them outside the heater and flip/ rotate them.

[Icon]

EDIT to ask, is there a shelf life for the heaters? The only use I have for them is using in soda bottles, but if they don't work after 10 -15 years, I will probably discard them.

Check out this:

Most posts mention the code as a 4 digit number, but mine (on the case) shows 15106, which I take to mean April 16 of 2015.

There never was a 5 digit date code. So 15106 could either be 1510 - without the 6 but there isn´t a 510th day of a year so you are right, it suppose to be 5106 what was April 16, 2015.

Interesting video.. thanks.. do you know if the silver bag he had was mylar, or something else???

[housil]

Interesting video.. thanks.. do you know if the silver bag he had was mylar, or something else???

You can ask RockyRaab, he is a member at forums:
memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=1714

[Giantdeer]

Intresting vid , thanks for sharing.