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Hi guys,

a couple of weeks ago I bought at ebay.com a "weird MCI ration", which is dated November 1979.

The first four photos show the card board of the ration from different views








Comparison of two ration card boards: In the back you can see a "real" MCI cardboard. The size is exact identical, but the printing on the lid is different: The "weird" ration has no "MEAL, COMBAT, INDIVIDUAL", also the number of the "B UNIT" is missing. The packers name "so-pak-co" seems strange 1979, in that year it was usually designated "SOUTHERN PACKAGING AND STORAGE CO."


View into the opened card board of the "weird" ration


All contents of the "weird" ration at one glance:
SPAGHETTI WITH BEEF CHUNKS IN SAUCE (5 ½ OZ )
POUND CAKE
B UNIT CRACKERS CANDY (two cans )
PEANUT BUTTER
ACCESSORY PACKET
Card board divider
White ration spoon


All contents of the "real" ration at one glance:
SPAGHETTI WITH BEEF CHUNKS IN SAUCE (12 OZ )
CINNAMON NUT ROLL
B-2 UNIT CRACKERS COCOA BEVERAGE POWDER (one can as usual for MCIs )
JAM, APRICOT
ACCESSORY PACKET
Card board divider
White ration spoon


Close-up of the SPAGHETTI WITH BEEF CHUNKS IN SAUCE 5 ½ OZ can




Date code "9268": September 25, 1979


Close-up of the POUND CAKE can




Date code "24109", that means October 24, 1979


Close-up of one of the two B UNIT CRACKERS CANDY can with the unusual "SO-PAK-CO."




Date code "11 79", that means November 1979 (both B UNIT cans have the same code!)


Close-up of PEANUT BUTTER can, no difference between the "real" MCI PEANUT BUTTER




Date code "04109", that means October 04, 1979


White ration spoon, the shape is similar to a "real" MCI spoon, but the used fabric is less transparent and so more white




Printing on the spoon "V.B. CLINTON…" with the ®, not usual 1979


ACCESSORY PACKET packed by "SO.-PAK.-CO.", no contents stated


If you compare the packaging dates of the single cans, you can see that they match with each other . That is a argument that the contents of the card board are original.

The ebay seller sold more of that "weird" rations, with that entrees: CHICKEN HASH; BRUNSWICK STEW; BEANS WITH CHICKEN FRANKS; TURKEY WITH DUMPLINGS . All of those have B UNIT CRACKERS CANDY only .

Is it possible that that "MCI ration" were produced for commercial use, so as commercial MREs today

So long mreheater72

I've been doing some digging and haven't found anything on this just yet, but I think your theory is very likely. In the US during the cold war there was a general air of caution with fallout shelters and personal bunkers being built at a fairly constant rate. While I'm sure lots of the bunkers were stocked with plain old survival crackers, it would make sense that companies like SoPakCo would be taking advantage of the trend and making versions that they could sell to the public.

Here's hoping we can get some more info on these some day

Ruleryak wrote:I've been doing some digging and haven't found anything on this just yet, but I think your theory is very likely. In the US during the cold war there was a general air of caution with fallout shelters and personal bunkers being built at a fairly constant rate. While I'm sure lots of the bunkers were stocked with plain old survival crackers, it would make sense that companies like SoPakCo would be taking advantage of the trend and making versions that they could sell to the public.

Here's hoping we can get some more info on these some day

You're right about the survival crackers:









The red dye that's in those candies is supposedly Red Dye #9 the same that was banned in the 1990's due to it's cancer causing effects.

Dude! Making me crazy with that Poundcake!

Could be for commercial sale, but I wonder if these were packaged for use as food aid like the Humanitarian Rations so they intentionally left off the "Combat" language. Or, maybe intended to stock government shelters?

Doubt is civilian

Sopako makes weird cases now, seems to be there SOP.

mreheater72 wrote:Hi guys,

a couple of weeks ago I bought at ebay.com a "weird MCI ration", which is dated November 1979.
....
So long mreheater72

Wow, interesting find there! Unfortunately I cant help you out with any info.