Will I Be Fine If I Eat a Decade Old MRE?

2023-02-11T23:34:57-05:00

I don’t see a date on the package. But I’ve had it since 2014. #15 Southwest Beef with Black Beans

Response by PO1 Kevin Dougherty made Feb 11 at 2023 11:47 PM

2023-02-11T23:47:10-05:00

Maybe ... MREs don't have an expiration date, but they do have a manufacture date. They are supposed to be good stored at 80F for at least three years. Of course if stored in a cool dry place, the timeline can be extended. if the package is intact and not swollen it's likely OK. It is worth noting that the main meal and the candy will last longer that the cheese spread, PB etc. It should go without saying if it smells or tastes "off," toss it.

Not for nothing, we were still eating WWII vintage C rats when I was in.

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Feb 12 at 2023 12:02 AM

2023-02-12T00:02:41-05:00

Possibly. It ultimately depend on its condition and the condition it was stored in. There are plenty of YouTube channels dedicated to this very thing. I’ve watched guys eat rations from Vietnam and older but it depends on a lot of factors.

Response by SPC Robert Coventry made Feb 12 at 2023 12:59 AM

2023-02-12T00:59:40-05:00

I think I did, BTW my Dad had a C-rat from WWII the can was swollen but my dad kept it

Response by SPC James Neidig made Feb 12 at 2023 1:02 AM

2023-02-12T01:02:18-05:00

If You Eat It, One Of Three Things Could Happen
You Could Turn Into A Sasquatch !
You Could Be Immune To Covid !
You Could Be Okay !
Not A Choice I Would Make For Southwest Beef with Black Beans

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Feb 12 at 2023 4:40 AM

2023-02-12T04:40:36-05:00

I was in basic in 1997. Our MREs featured M&Ms with an Olympic themed wrapper....

The 1984 LA Olympics.

If the MRE was stored properly, you should be OK.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 12 at 2023 6:40 AM

2023-02-12T06:40:18-05:00

As long as it doesn't show any sign of spoilage like swelling bag or bad smell, it will be safe to eat. MREs are sterilized by radiation, they can theoretically last for decades since there are no bacteria whatsoever in there.

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Feb 12 at 2023 7:05 AM

2023-02-12T07:05:17-05:00

You can actually google the code on it and the dates will come up. Having said that they are meant to last a long time. I would check.

Response by COL Randall C. made Feb 12 at 2023 7:20 AM

2023-02-12T07:20:09-05:00

https://www.mreinfo.com/mres/mre-shelf-life/

I've got some REALLY old stuff in a box in my basement ... haven't gotten around to chucking them out (some of these are from the 80s/90s), but everything I keep coming across is ... well, maybe but maybe not.

While it is rare for bacteria to grow inside of a sealed MRE - it's possible - rare, but possible. If there is any damage to it, I wouldn't even consider it. If you have any doubt (smell, texture, color) - get rid of it.

A modified 'caveat emptor' applies ... comedenti cave - eater beware, or 'eat at your own risk'.

MRE Shelf Life | MRE Info

You have an MRE and you're wondering, is this thing still edible? Or, how long do MREs last? Here's all the shelf life information you need.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 12 at 2023 9:16 AM

2023-02-12T09:16:22-05:00

Unless the package is deformed or bulging you will be fine

Response by SSG Bill McCoy made Feb 12 at 2023 10:35 AM

2023-02-12T10:35:44-05:00

CANNED goods are virtually without an exprie date ... only a "best by" date. I imagine MRE's are the same ... they'd only lose what (little) taste they have.
In Nam we had C-Rats (canned stuff that was actually pretty good, at least compared to MRE's!) that were from the Korean era.

Response by SP5 Peter Keane made Feb 12 at 2023 1:24 PM

2023-02-12T13:24:06-05:00

Meet me at McDonalds and I'll buy you a quarter pounder with cheese. Throw that shit away.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Feb 12 at 2023 2:42 PM

2023-02-12T14:42:52-05:00

Please in 80's we were still eating Crats from Vietnam and before.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 12 at 2023 3:26 PM

2023-02-12T15:26:52-05:00

In the infantry during the 70's, we had C-Rats dated from the 40's, were still good.

Response by Maj Jarrod Graham made Feb 15 at 2023 10:13 PM

2023-02-15T22:13:53-05:00

Definitely a case of can vs. should. Real question is do you really want to eat an MRE when you don't have to?

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 16 at 2023 5:43 PM

2023-02-16T17:43:36-05:00

What could possibly go wrong?!

Response by Cpl George Matousek made Feb 17 at 2023 11:44 AM

2023-02-17T11:44:59-05:00

I don't know about MREs but in the Marines in Vietnam we had C-rations from the 1940s to eat.

Response by SFC Allen Murphy made Apr 1 at 2023 8:08 AM

2023-04-01T08:08:04-04:00

Let us know how it goes!

Response by SP5 George Butts made Apr 20 at 2023 9:40 AM

2023-04-20T09:40:31-04:00

While in Vietnam, 1969, most of the C-Rations we ate daily were left over from WW2, If I remember, the newer ones had better canned fruit and the peanut butter from Dotham Alabama was much better.

Response by PFC Garry Tarvin made Apr 21 at 2023 11:22 PM

2023-04-21T23:22:52-04:00

Do this... get your e-tool.
Dig a hole in your back yard so your ready to expel out of your rectum and bury it as it goes straight through you

Response by CPT Steven Cunningham made Apr 23 at 2023 2:27 PM

2023-04-23T14:27:45-04:00

I felt anything but fine eating fresh MREs. All those calories gave me terminal indigestion. Try an energy bar.

Response by SPC George Edwards made Apr 23 at 2023 5:34 PM

2023-04-23T17:34:42-04:00

I'd eat it. Back in the 60s, I ate C-rations that were packaged in the 40s and I'm still above ground.

Response by MGySgt Rick Tyrrell made Apr 23 at 2023 8:26 PM

2023-04-23T20:26:43-04:00

Why would you want too? It is not worth the question. Get a new one if your curious how they taste. BTW your not missing nothing.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 24 at 2023 9:45 PM

2023-04-24T21:45:44-04:00

In 1985 my Sergeant Major and my First Sergeant and ate Vietnam era field rations dated 1968,and we where just fine.

Response by SFC Allen Murphy made Apr 25 at 2023 5:02 PM

2023-04-25T17:02:17-04:00

Well....we're waiting!

Response by SSG Douglas Shaffer made Apr 25 at 2023 6:30 PM

2023-04-25T18:30:23-04:00

In the early 80's I was eating C-ration that were made in the late 60's. So, I am sure that the MRE is just fine. In the C-ration the only thing you need to avoid was not to eat the Blackberry Jelly that had been sitting out in the sun for hours.

Response by CPL Amie Mclaughlin made Apr 25 at 2023 8:37 PM

2023-04-25T20:37:35-04:00

I ate sea rations that were packaged in 1946. So you are getting the new MRE's count your blessings you have the good stuff!

Response by SMSgt Keith Klug made Apr 28 at 2023 6:35 AM

2023-04-28T06:35:33-04:00

Back in 1999 while in Germany, had an MRE hat had M&Ms in it. On the package it said I could win tickets to the Olympics...In Seoul. That was 1988. The doctor certified the MREs and then a few of us ended up with food poisoning.

Response by MAJ Ronnie Reams made Apr 28 at 2023 9:39 AM

2023-04-28T09:39:53-04:00

Probably, I ate a lotta Cs that were a decade or more old.

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made Apr 28 at 2023 10:14 AM

2023-04-28T10:14:59-04:00

As long as it isn't the dehydrated strawberries! lol

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 29 at 2023 8:09 AM

2023-04-29T08:09:49-04:00

I think MREs is ingenious because this may be Elon Musk and to a large Paradigm shift where it will be cost effective. Tesla is the true driving force behind what see today. The MRE will be standard with due dates, extending shelf life of food. Trust on this.

Response by LCpl Jeff Moore made May 22 at 2023 12:46 AM

2023-05-22T00:46:25-04:00

Everything is edible, or atleast once

Response by SFC Philip Ogden made May 23 at 2023 7:49 PM

2023-05-23T19:49:40-04:00

Storage and Shelf Life Checks How long MREs last depends on how long they are stored and at what temperatures they are stored. At the least, they'll last 1 month at 120 degrees F. Or they could last 60+ months at 50 degrees F.

Response by Cpl Patrick Denis made May 24 at 2023 5:50 AM

2023-05-24T05:50:56-04:00

If you eat that you should get a Purple Heart

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made May 25 at 2023 5:58 AM

2023-05-25T05:58:42-04:00

As long as the package is intact, I wouldn't be too concerned. Don't squeeze the food into your mouth and accidentally ingest the bag exterior printing & color. It could give you explosive diarrhea.

Response by A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney made May 25 at 2023 8:24 AM

2023-05-25T08:24:41-04:00

It's Probably Better Than The Newer Ones,
And Still WILL Be, 100 Years From Now When
Some Other Of We G.I.s Ask The Same Question!
But Just EAT IT.!!
.. If Ya Get SICK Or DIE, Let Us Know, Okay?

Response by SPC Vonnie Jones made May 29 at 2023 10:44 AM

2023-05-29T10:44:22-04:00

Well! Beans and beef what could possibly happen? In the 1980 I was eating C rats from the WW II, loved peaches. I guess I was spoiled by C rats because I never took a liken to MRE except for the fruit of course. You must be full of nostalgia to want to take a chance eating a decade old black beans

Response by SPC Paul Vaneizenga made May 29 at 2023 1:17 PM

2023-05-29T13:17:50-04:00

Yes. Don't worry, you will defecate in about 5 days.

Response by SSgt Pat Elko made May 29 at 2023 5:44 PM

2023-05-29T17:44:57-04:00

Finally, a topic worthy of discussion here (some have gotten way off base lately)!

I've eaten one and portions of them (chocolate covered cookies) that were 15+ old. They tasted good and I was fine afterwards. As others have said, bloated packaging, smells bad, tastes bad, looks oddly discolored versus just age discolored, damaged packaging, chuck it; otherwise, you will be just fine.

Response by Sgt Robert Anchors made May 31 at 2023 2:03 AM

2023-05-31T02:03:34-04:00

depends, how much beer do you plan to wash it down with?

Response by SGT Erick Holmes made Jun 15 at 2023 4:33 PM

2023-06-15T16:33:22-04:00

The question should for all of us who has eaten MRE's will we be ok hahahaha

Response by TSgt David Olson made Jun 15 at 2023 8:05 PM

2023-06-15T20:05:39-04:00

Don’t know about MRE ‘s, only ate them a few times, terrible. Now C rations, I ate and smoked WW II, and Korean conflict fruit cocktail, Pall Mall cigarettes, beans and franks, pound cake, chocolate powder, and more in Vietnam.

Response by SPC Chris Parks made Jul 18 at 2023 12:47 AM

2023-07-18T00:47:55-04:00

Go to Steve1989MREInfo on YouTube. You’ll be much less daring than he has been.