Sopako Information, Full Meals and Entrees, Meals Ready to Eat, MRE, MRES, Full Meals

Sopakco Meals Ready to Eat Information / MRE Heater Information / Operating Instructions for Heaters

Are SOPAKCO MRE's dehydrated or freeze dried?
No. Dehydrated or freeze dried foods typically require that water be added in order to be prepared and eaten. Your SOPAKCO MRE main course dishes are "ready to eat", and do not require you to add water to the contents.

Can I eat the products cold?
Yes. The main entrees do not require additional cooking prior to being eaten. All products may be eaten cold, directly from the pouch. Heating of the products is considered optional, although most people do prefer to warm their food when possible.

How do I warm my food? MRE pouches may be warmed in many ways. Although the pouch is a reasonably sturdy and durable container, it can be damaged if too high of a temperature is applied. DO NOT apply a direct flame to the pouch. DO NOT use any high temperature heating process that could harm the pouch or cause injury or damage to your skin. Instead, the following methods are suggested methods of "gently warming" your food:

1. The unopened pouch may be placed in a pan of warm water for 5-10 minutes. Do not use hot water, which may burn the user if spilled.

2. Lay the pouch in direct sunlight, allowing it to warm

3. The unopened pouch may be placed inside your shirt, allowing your body temperature to help warm the food inside

4. The unopened pouch may be laid on a warm surface, to absorb the heat from the warm object.

5. The pouch may be opened and the food placed into a pan for heating.

6. MRE pouches may also be heated using Water-Activated Flameless MRE Heaters. SOPAKCO does not make these heaters. Please speak with your retailer about the possible availability of these items.

Why are the packages in plain brown or green colors?
Most items in your SOPAKCO MRE's are packed in standard military packaging. The brown and green colors are selected to help the products have low visibility.

How long will these products last?
SOPAKCO Packaging uses an estimated shelf life figure of "5 years, plus or minus" for its MRE-type pouched food products. Actual shelf life may vary from this estimate. A key factor effecting actual shelf life is the temperature of the storage environment. Storage at temperatures higher than 85F (85 degrees Fahrenheit) may shorten the shelf life of MRE-type food products. On the other hand, lowering the storage temperature will help extend the products' shelf life. This effect is common to most processed food products.

The shelf life figures given below for MRE's are based on studies conducted by the U.S. Army's NATIC Research Laboratories. This study was conducted by NATIC without participation of the MRE manufacturers. As such, SOPAKCO Packaging cannot verify the test procedures used by the NATIC labs, nor do we adopt these shelf life figures as a guarantee of any sort. The data is useful, though, as a general indication of the effects of storage temperatures on the shelf life of MRE-type food products.

Temperature
(Fahrenheit): 100º 90º 85º 80º 75º 70º 60º

Storage Life
in Months: 22 55 60 76 88 100 130+

The above storage data and time periods were based on "acceptable taste" measures, which is a subjective standard that may vary among each individual. Test participants were asked to indicate which products they were presented would be rated to still be of "acceptable taste". Responses were noted, and average values were calculated to yield the data above.

The above data does not indicate the maximum useful life of MRE food products. The NATIC study noted that nutritional value and product safety value of the products often extended far beyond these time points.

Again, SOPAKCO Packaging in no way adopts the NATIC shelf life figures as any form of express or implied guarantee of the actual shelf life of its MRE food products. This information is provided as a general indication of the effects of storage temperature on MRE-type packaged foods.

Will these products work for camping trips?
Absolutely! The ready-to-eat convenience of SOPAKCO MRE's make them ideally suited for use while camping, hunting, fishing and hiking.

Would it make sense for me to store MRE's as a source of food for my family or employees in the event of a natural disaster or other emergency?
It makes very good sense. Many individuals, companies and other organizations purchase and store our MRE's as emergency food supplies in the event of earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, ice storms or other emergency situations.

The famous water activated MRE heater has heated over 100,000,000 meals for the U.S. Army.

Zesto-Therm's Flameless Ration Heater (FRH) is a patented water-activated and environmentally friendly heater. It is especially designed for the U.S. Army to heat a soldier's individual eight ounce Meals, Ready to Eat (MRE) field ration - like the Milspec MRE or Sopakco MRE.

Since 1990, Zesto-Therm has made over 100 million Flameless Ration Heaters.

An FRH heats food without the need for fire - safely and quickly. FRH food heaters are used easily in situations where fire is prohibited or not recommended. The FRH is ideal for soldiers in the fields, campers, hunters, boaters or anyone interested in emergency preparedness.

An FRH MRE heater is small (measuring 5 1/2 inches long x 4 1/2 inches wide and about 3/8 inch thick), and weighs about one and a half ounces.

Zesto-Therm FRH MRE heaters are easy to store and have a five year shelf life.

Spent pads are easily disposed, with no toxic materials. The FRHs are made from powdered food grade iron, magnesium, and sodium.

Each FRH is individually packaged in a sturdy, leak-proof polybag which serves as the heating container for the MRE. The polybag measures 5 3/4 inches wide by 14 1/4 inches long.

Simply cut open the top of the FRH polybag sleeve, Place the MRE food portion inside the bag next to the heater. Add plain water to the "Fill Line", and fold the open end of the bag.

In just 12 minutes - enjoy a hot meal anytime, anyplace.

Availability: Usually ships the next business day. UPS from California.