Inspection?

[excelblue]

What is the significance of the inspection date on the MREs?

What usually happens in the military when the MREs reach the inspection date? What does an inspection involve? Are they shipped back to the original packers?

[kman]

The inspection date on a case of MREs is a date three years after the MREs are packed when the meals should be inspected to determine if they are still good to consume.

The US Army Veterinary Serivce ( http://www.veterinaryservice.army.mil/ ) is the group tasked with inspecting MREs. My understanding of the process is that they test sample lots of MREs - they check so many cases of out 1000, for example.

Here are some links for you. First, there is the DSCP page of information for Quality Assurance Publications. Then there's a link off that page to the MRE Inspection docs. And finally, there's a direct link to a PDF specifying exactly how the inspections are to be conducted:

DSCP - Quality Assurance Publications
http://www.dscp.dla.mil/subs/support/qapubs/index.asp

Inspection of Meal, Ready-to-Eat (MRE) Rations
http://www.dscp.dla.mil/subs/support/qa ... /index.asp

Inspection of Meal, Ready-to-Eat (MRE) Rations
http://www.dscp.dla.mil/subs/support/qa ... 155-2a.pdf

I do have one case of MREs from 1995 that had been inspected in 1998. Its shelf life was extended until at least 1999. Here's a picture of the inspection sticker from the top of the case:

[C-rats]

Hell, I may have just found the ideal job!

I wonder what the pay scale is for an official DoD MRE Inspector?

[MCIera]

Am I the only person that thinks it a little odd that the MREs are inspected and certified for extended storage by the US Army Veterinary Services?

[kman]

I thought it was pretty odd, too. Then again, at least they won't have to test eating the MREs with humans. :-)

[Baldy]

Am I the only person that thinks it a little odd that the MREs are inspected and certified for extended storage by the US Army Veterinary Services?

I'm gonna be a spoilsport and say it makes sense on a burden-sharing basis: no doubt they have a whole lot of labs, equipment, trained health surveyors and other resources that are up to the task, and it frees up medical personnel for important stuff like front-line trauma care for humans.

But yes, it is pretty funny! I'm sure 100s of jokes have been made about it.

PS: I'm not suggesting all military veterinarians are REMFs: I know they look after military working dogs on deployment, do a lot of 'hearts & minds' livestock care in the field, etc.

[housil]

Did you know that there is a list, with "all" MRE items how they should look, smell etc. like at inspection?

See:


http://www.dscp.dla.mil/subs/support/qa ... mono-a.asp


Select item


image (if available)

[kman]

That is a pretty cool link, Housil. I like who they have a lable for the food, the entree box, and then the actual food. But I don't think the pictures of the food are that good - it's too far away to get a real good look at it. But it's a good start at least!