I have been lurking here for months and finally I have something to add I hope it hasn't been posted. The major paper in our area is the Evansville Press and can be found at http://courier.evansville.net/ Tues. paper front page had a articile on MRE's they are made in Evansville you can read the whole articile here or wait a day or two and they will have it at http://courier.evansville.net/y2k/ They list all their Y2k articiles on this page. In a nut shell the sale of MRE's has double due to Y2k. Hope I did this right!

-- howard johnson (first@post.net), March 17, 1999

Answers

Truth is, there is a big difference between and order and receipt of that order. Most of the distributors of MRE's are hopelessly backordered.

-- SCOTTY (BLehman202@aol.com), March 17, 1999.

About the only thing I purchased that I consider a mistake, was a case of MRE's. My thinking at the time was that even if y2k fizzled, they would keep for a very long time, and be useful as hurricane supplies. I ordered them in early January, and they just came yesterday. I may try one tonight, and if they are as bad as I hear they are, guess what would be the first thing to be given to the neighbors if things get bad...lol.

-- Online2Much (ready_for_y2k@mindspring.com), March 17, 1999.

MRE's are lighter, & therefore easier to transport, than cans. So that's one advantage, if a trip suddenly became necessary. & of course there's always barter. Better to have & not need, etc.

BTW, Does anyone know if MRE's will survive being frozen? I know they're supposed to be kept cool/cold (which should be an interesting challenge in the summer), but I never heard just HOW cold. Freezing destroys some foods, damages wrappings, etc. Thanks.

-- bought the (damn@things.anyway), March 17, 1999.

If you read the warning on the case, it says not to rough handle the MREs while they are frozen. I suspect that they'll survive freezing, because surely the military expected that they might get cold from time to time. Also, the pouches seem to be not 100% full, so there probably is some expansion for freezing room.

FYI, don't make MREs your main source of food for more than a few days, or you'll find that they give people terrible constipation (damn near no fiber in them).

I found that the only meals I liked were the meatballs in tomato sauce, spaghetti with meat, and "vegetable ragout" (a vegetarian humaitarian baked-beans type of meal). My dog wouldn't even eat the Beef hash :) Neighbors might get the beef hash, and ham dishes. If they are LUCKY, and have something to trade.

I stocked up several years ago when they were $30 a case, and will not pay the $50+ a case they go for now, if you can even find them.

Try gunshows; there's still a few there, or try surplus stores. Expect to pay more.

If I were to have to hit the road and go on foot, I might carry a couple MREs in case I couldn't make a fire, but my main foods would be backpacking food/Clif bars. Also, Datrex emergency rations are good for short term use.

-- Bill (billclo@hotmail.com), March 17, 1999.

Yes, MRE's can be frozen. As a matter of fact, I think that's the preferred long-term storage method.

There's an in-depth discussion of MRE's and Y2K at

www.cloudrunner.com/Y2K if you're interested.

Jolly

-- Jollyprez (jolly@prez.com), March 17, 1999.

MRE's ain't bad, certainly better then the old rations. They don't have much fiber, but the mil ones each come with a piece of "gum". Its a laxative to stimulate movement....

-- Former Flyer (exusaf@mil.gov), March 19, 1999.