MRE shelf life

[Dogzilla]

Does anyone know the real shelf life of MRE's? I have several cases that I acquired after Katrina. I am not sure how long they will be a viable food source. I hear that they have a shelf life of 5 years, if so how do I determine the date of manufacture? I would hate for them to just go to waste a couple of years from now.

[Kenno]

A couple of years back I did a non-scientific test with some old and new GI MREs. My oldest MRE was 8-10 years old it had not been properly stored, subjected to temps near 100 degrees and had been frozen at least once. the quality of the food had degraded (I know, your asking how I could tell!). The MRE bag was slightly bloated, a bad sign. The food was still edible, the color and texture was close to the 'new' MRE, it did not make me sick, except when I looked at it! I do not recomend eating MREs this old except in an emergency, better to trade them off. There should be a manufacturing date some where on the packaging, perhaps on the inside packaging. If in doubt sell them off and buy civilian canned goods you would normaly eat and rotate your stock.

[Txkstew]

All the charts I've seen, say up to 15 years if kept cool or cold. I would think 8 years if kept inside the house under A/C. By the way MREfoods.com have 12 pack entree's for $28. Thats $2.33 ea and free shipping till July 31.

Another good deal I came across are Black Berkley filters, 2-pack for $70 and free shipping from http://www.morethanalive.com/BB. Everyone else has them for $99. We need to start a new thread of good deals!

[kev]

On the bottom of the case, there should be a sticker with a red circle inside of a red circle.

Both of these two red circles should be a different shade of red, the closer the two reds are, the sooner you need to open one MRE out of that case and see if its still good.

This is an example of the red tag.
tti-small.jpg

On the bottom of the case, there should be two dates - a manufacture date and a test date. However, some cases will use a different form such as "1068". In this case, the first number "1" stands for the year (2001) and the next three numbers indicate which day of the year (365 days in a year) it was packed. So "068" would be day 68 of the year 2001...or March 9, 2001.

MRE's are VERY sensitive to temperature. One day over 100 degrees takes about one month off the shelf life. Store the MRE's in the coolest part of your house, maybe a closet or a basement.

[411man]

FYI MRE Shelf Life info.

http://www.longlifefood.com/mre.html#Shelflife

http://www.longlifefood.com/mre.html#Chart

[Texcam]

Very nice information, I always wondered when I bought surplus MRE's what the expected life was.

Thanks for the links.

[riverrat]

I have a few left from a case I bought 8 years ago. I had a few of them last deer season, and they were still good. I keep them in my basement where it is nice and cool.

[230gr]

I keep them in my basement where it is nice and cool too and they where fine after 12 years. I suspect they would be eatable much longer by the taste, texture and vitamins slowly deteriorate. Still protein & carbos would be fine.

[Dwind]

Originally Posted by Txkstew

All the charts I've seen, say up to 15 years if kept cool or cold. I would think 8 years if kept inside the house under A/C. By the way MREfoods.com have 12 pack entree's for $28. Thats $2.33 ea and free shipping till July 31.

Another good deal I came across are Black Berkley filters, 2-pack for $70 and free shipping from http://www.morethanalive.com/BB. Everyone else has them for $99. We need to start a new thread of good deals!

all I see in the way of full MREs is 7 for 98 bucks. which is ABSURDLY HIGH

[2manygunz]

I've eaten M.R.E's five years past the due date. No problem.

[Calantus]

my father ate WW2 MREs during vietnam

[230gr]

I don't think that would be possable.

The MRE was adopted as the Department of Defense combat ration in 1975. A large-scale production test began in 1978 with delivery in 1981. MRE I (1981) was the first date of pack.

http://www.mreinfo.com/us/mre/mre-history.html

They where probably Tinned K or C rations from WW2 but even that says a lot about canned foods real shelf life

[Calantus]

Hm, not sure he might of been lying lol

[Dwind]

MRE is just modern nomenclature- C rats, D rats, and (gag) K rats were still ready to eat meals