Military MREs are subject to stricter requirements than civilian MREs.  This is because these food rations are for operational and field use.  For highly active individuals, MREs must meet their nutritional needs.  Each military MRE is one self contained individual meal package which has about 1200 calories.  Each MRE case has twelve different meals so that provides the service members some variety which in turn encourages that proper nutritional needs are met.  Beyond nutritional requirements, military MREs meals are regulated for proper packaging.  This is to make sure that the MRE meal contents won’t be spoiled with variable temperatures from high altitude drops or scorching desert temperatures.  Therefore, the shelf life of MREs varies according to their storage conditions.  In ideal conditions, MREs are said to be good for as long as eleven years.  In high heat temperatures hitting 100 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees the expected shelf life is nine months.  For what is considered normal conditions, the shelf life is three and a half years at 81 degrees Fahrenheit or 27 degrees Celcius.

NEW!!! Army Military MRE Camping Meal Chicken & Noodles    US $.99

Case A Military MRE's Meals Ready to Eat Insp 2010    US $36.00

Cold Weather Meals Mre's    US $50.00

Fresh Sealed Case-B MRE's (Meals 13-24)Test Date 11/11    US $41.00

MRE- Military Rations- Meals Ready to Eat (Lot of 13)    US $22.50

MRE's Case A Meals 1-12 Insp-10/11 Good through 2018    US $39.00

MRE's Case B Meals 13-24 Insp 10/11 Good through 2018    US $39.00

UNOPENED BOXES OF CLASS B MILITARY MRE's    US $40.00

Military MRE Entree Minestrone Camping Food 2010 Sealed    US $.99

26 MRE Entres and Side Dishes in Packets    US $41.00

MILITARY MRE MRE'S SNACK CHEDDAR/NACHO CHEESE PRETZELS    US $1.75

Up to 25 cases MREs Meals Ready to Eat. Military Grade    US $65.00

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MREs have often been compared with freeze dried food as well since it is used by the government to provide for service members as well along with the disaster relief efforts.  Freeze dried food pouches and cans do have the advantage of having longer shelf life than MRE meals.  With the Mountain House freeze dried food, they purport to last up to 25 years in the right storage conditions.  Freeze dried food is easy to consume as well.  All you have to do is add water and it comes out tasting very much like the original menu.  You can also find pretty extensive menus for Mountain House freeze dried food.  As far as cost goes, freeze dried food costs less than an individual MRE meal.

If you are looking for the 2009 military MRE menu, you can find it below:

01  Chili with Beans
02  Pork Rib
03  Beef Ravioli
04  Maple Sausage
05  Chicken Breast
06  Chicken w/Noodles
07  Brisket Entree
08  Meatballs with Marinara
09  Beef Stew
10  Chili & Macaroni
11  Vegetable Lasagna
12  Veggie Burger with BBQ Sauce
13  Cheese Tortellini
14  Spicy Penne Pasta
15  Beef Enchilada
16  Chicken Fajita
17  Sloppy Joe
18  Beef Patty
19  Pot Roast with Vegetables
20  Spaghetti with Meat Sauce
21  Tuna
22  Chicken with Dumplings
23  Chicken Pesto & Pasta
24  Buffalo Chicken

U.S. military MREs are actually not supposed to be sold for commercial purposes.  However, this doesn’t stop sales of cases of MRE on eBay.  If you have no problem with buying military MRE, things you want to look out for are the packing and inspection date and the menu offered.  You also have to be aware that since this sale is prohibited by the U.S. government, you’ll have little recourse in legal actions should you find something wrong with your MRE.  In other words, buyer beware.  Since the military MRE comes to you second hand, you also do not have any idea how it was stored and what temperature conditions it was subjected to.  On the other hand, if you do get your hands on a case of genuine military MRE, it is a bigger meal than the civilian version and there’s more variety in the case as well.  Military MREs are also less expensive than civilian MREs.

AlpineAire Foods Mountain Chili - Serves 2    US $6.03

AlpineAire Foods Mexican Rice w/ Cheese - Serves    US $4.13

Case A Military MRE's Meals Ready to Eat Insp 2010    US $36.00

MRE- Military Rations- Meals Ready to Eat (Lot of 13)    US $22.50

MRE's Case A Meals 1-12 Insp-10/11 Good through 2018    US $39.00

MRE's Case B Meals 13-24 Insp 10/11 Good through 2018    US $39.00

26 MRE Entres and Side Dishes in Packets    US $41.00

Up to 25 cases MREs Meals Ready to Eat. Military Grade    US $65.00

10 Heater Meals 3 Entrees - MRE MREs MRE's    US $9.99

9 Heater Meals 3 Entrees - MRE MREs MRE's    US $9.99

5 MRE's (Meals-Ready-to-Eat)    US $10.50

Emergency Survival Food - Yoder's Canned Bacon    US $17.45

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The manufacturers of civilian meals ready to eat are listening to the public demands for more variety in the menus.  Each year, a greater selection emerges.  There are five main brands of civilian food rations and they include:  Ameriqual aPack, Sopakco Sure-Pak 12, Wornick Eversafe, Menu C, MREStar.  The packaging and contents of these companies are quite similar to the military version as the first three companies listed actually produce MREs for the military.  If you are buying civilian MREs, the chances are it won’t be left in the scorching desert sun and will be “fresher” when you get it.   You can then properly store it for your own emergency preparation without worries if it will go bad.

Whichever MRE meals you choose, be it military or civilian, know that you are doing the right thing in being prepared for any disaster.