MRE's (Meals Ready to Eat) question?

bolline

Not exactly a shooting questions but thought I might find a handful of military guys who could tell me the shelf life of an older MRE. I have about 6 of them left over from a case I bought about 15-16 years ago. (1) I really don't want to take the chance and test out one of them if they might be bad and (2) if they are still good then I can leave them sealed instead of using one. There is no date or lot number but the manufacturer is listed as Right Away Food Corp in McAllen, Texas and it obviously lists the type of meal. Thanks.

nards444

Im in the army, and Id Like to say 7-10 years.

nmyers

This should tell you everything you need to know:

http://www.mreinfo.com/mre-longevity.html

Neal

nononsense

bolline,

Most of the suppliers suggest that 5 years is the limit for best taste but that can be a variable depending on storage temperature and package handling. The lower the storage temperature, the longer the shelf life. One charts lists 5 years at about 80 degrees and 10 years at 60 degrees. Here is the information on the company that made your MRE's. Call or e-mail them to get an appropriate answer:

WORNICK COMPANY, THE
(formerly Right Away Foods and Shelf Stable Foods)
200 North First Street
McAllen, TX 78501
(800) 565-4147 (Mil-Spec orders)
(210) 687-9401
(210) 687-7028 fax

http://www.wornick.com

E-mail: sales@wornick.com

Manufacturer of military MRE's, their civilian MRE equivalent brand *Mil-Spec* and humanitarian pouch meals. Good information on military and civilian MRE's on their site. No retail sales.

p3skyking

You mean they go bad?

In the 70's, we had C-rats from the Korean War aboard ship and they would probably still be edible now.

bobski

c rats never went bad, because they started life as bad.....[xx(][:D]

MN Hunter

put it this way..... it takes longer to "pass em"...

phideaux4886

I tell you what, for several days after Katrina, we lived on those things and they were good. Never did look to see if there was an expiration date on them.
DSM

usmcaz

Ah Yes youngsters K rations add water stir heat serve
Semper Fi USMC 3-2-4

dfletcher

Spaghetti, pork & cracker sandwiches heated with a Sterno tab & pound cake for dessert. Not to bad for canned 20 year old food.

Xracer

"K" & "C" rats never die.....they just smell that way! [:D][:D][:D]

('course they did when they were new, too!)

Grunt2

Love those hame & egg "C" Rats...

ammo guy

I recently opened and used some MRE's made in 1984, they were still fine. Food value probably was not as good but they were safe to eat. Remember these meals are irradated to kill any bacteria so they will never "spoil" while sealed.