New MRE Meal Pkg.

[DangerousDave]

Looks like Norge posted about earlier. The 'New Style'. I guess. Date codes on packets are 3313-3317. Sopacko.[attachment=0]DSCF1442.JPG[/attachment]

[Militaryration_guy]

I wonder if the new packages are as indestructible as the older packages? From Steve's video they look to be as easy to open as civilian MREs are.

[Tedster]

It is kind of interesting- recall the 1980s packaging was a fair bit more substantial. They used a heavy outer cardboard sleeve on the box. This eventually went away. Boxes are still heavy duty, though a bit thinner. One of the requirements for rations is air drop capability on pallets. If they can withstand that I suppose they are good to go.

[noderaser]

Doing some training with the first "new" MREs I've had in a couple of years and noticed the new packaging. Is there any info on how the new packaging would affect shelf stability? It's definitely thinner packaging than the old stuff, and perhaps the clear plastic might allow some UV in to degrade the inner packaging? Not that you should be storing them in the sun. I've also noticed that over the years, some of the tan bags have an inner wrapper.

I haven't actually broken open any of the new ones, it's pretty relaxed training (I get to go home at night) and I've been keeping the new ones to rotate my stock--so I'm eating 2012ish production ones for lunch instead.

[Tedster]

The ingredients themselves also factor greatly in shelf stability. Canola oil and less expensive hydrogenated vegetable oils tend to turn rancid over time. In the quest for so-called “healthy” fats as well as keeping costs down, I’ve noticed some serious problems. If you open something and it smells like paint, or varnish, that’s why. Oxidation. Palm oil, coconut oil are much more stable.