WWII C Rations

[Fosgate]

Looking at modern MRE's and looking at the max life of maybe 15yrs got me wondering. I had to read Level 4: Virus Hunters of the CDC by
Joseph B McCormick and Susan Fisher-Hoch for an Epidemiology college class and got to wondering. T-rats in the Army during my time just flat sucked and I cannot stand precooked sausage to this day. But in this book it talks about Epidemiologists from the CDC and WHO chasing Lassa Fever and Ebola around Africa from the 1960's-1980's. What I caught in there was early on John McCormick had an experience on the road in which they were eating not Vietnam era C-rations but WWII era C-rations as they still had the stamps and menu choices from the mid 40's and they were actually still acceptable and no one got sick (or died). The time I believe would have been about 1975-78. Now if C Rats were sitting somewhere in Africa you can probably bet they were not in a room where the temp was below 60 degrees to preserve them the longest. I also wonder how long were people still eating those C-rations until they finally expired longest I have found are people eating dates 1944-47 in 1983. To me if some company out there was making the same C-rats they would in fact be the best survival food available and the test of time proves it. I can't say I would be so eager to try an MRE from the 80's or early 90's. Then I got to thinking if maybe something very similar to the old C-rats are maybe made and used by another countries military.

Anyone know if there is someplace that you can buy something that will last as long? Found one reproduction company that intended to bring them back but don't know if they ever did. http://www.askahain.de/vietnam/vn-datab ... ations.htm

[mantis]

The only thing that I know will last anywhere near that long is Mountain House canned freeze dried food. They freeze dry the food, suck the air out of the can and replace it with nitrogen. Those cans are said to have a shelf life of > 25 years.

[TacAir]

Many Hormel products, most famously, SPAM!, have no shelf life. Seriously. The way the 'food' is processed ensures an extended shelf life.

Canned food will have a longer shelf life than food processed in the newer 'retort' pouches - simple due tot he fact that oxy migration will occur in a Mylar pouch that does not in tinned food.