24hr Rat Packs

[Gray]

I've just acquired some 24hr rat packs packed in 2010. To my surprise some of the boil in bag meals have BBE dates which have expired. I know this sounds like a stupid question but are they still ok to eat. I remember years ago you just looked at the packing date and they were good for something like 8 years after.
Any opinions guys

 

[Humpback]

No don't eat them they're deadly! They should be disposed of safely. Send them to me and I'll do it for you

 

[Gray]

No don't eat them they're deadly! They should be disposed of safely. Send them to me and I'll do it for you

Err yeah ok....not. lol

 

[santaman2000]

LOL. They're probobly fine. I've eaten MREs past their expiration date with no problem (and commercial canned foods as well)

I suspect what happened is the supplier who packed them accidentally packed older items into the assembled rat packs. I further suspect that it was discovered during a quality check (whether by said packer or a government agent accepting them) and that's how they wound up on the surplus market.

 

[Will_]

I think the dates are partly to do with the food loosing its stated nutritional value rather than the food becoming toxic or anything.
Best bet is to go to A&E, boil up an MRE in the reception area and see what happens

 

[Gray]

Just spoke to a QM who said latest EU rules state they have to have a bbe date when in actual fact they are good for 10 years. Once they reach the bbe date, they are no longer issued to troops and put on the surplus market. He said brand new packs are being issued all the time to cadets that are past the bbe date.....happy days

 

[Mesquite]

Best Before End date... means exactly that. The food contained within is at it's best before the date stamped.

It doesn't become inedible overnight just because it's reached that date.

Use By dates are more important as the food does go off with a few days of the date stamp.

More info here

 

[wingstoo]

checked with this firm

http://www.rationpacks2go.co.uk/individual-meals.html

Emailed a chap called Adam and received the following

the packs have a best before of around 3 years from production, but they are
fine to eat after 6, 7, 8 + years

 

[Gray]

Great info as always, cheers fellas