1980, basic training, USAF, I got served C-rations from the Korean war. Had Chesterfield(tm) cigarettes in it. I ate everything, smoked the cigarettes, and have survived to this day.
The butt floss they included almost killed me when I had to use it. That stuff is rough.
/johnny
When I was a junior high boy scout in California at Ft Ord in the early 70’s we got free C-Rats for our camping expeditions.
The scoutmaster would come around and confiscate the little 4-pack of cigarettes.
He didn’t get them all.
Story about the general officer that retired a few years ago shared his 60’s era Vietnam issued pound cake and peaches with his staff at his 2010 retirement ceremony 50 plus years later ..... They all were surprised it was great !
I store can goods on a rotational FIFO set of racks in a cool dark root cellar style storage room. Each can gets a sharpie pen DTG marked on it or a computer printed lable I make stuck on it. Oldest can goods in the rack are ranch style beans and they were 5 years old as oldest product I had on hand.
They are still good.
Soups, stews and chili, peanut butter, honey, canned juices and sauces add to,the dry storage of pintos, rice, cornmeal , and spices etc....
75% of our “pantry” is canned goods and the rest are dry goods and freeze dred . If power goes then first few weeks is beef, chicken, pork, fish and wild game harvested. Jerky manufacturing Inc per se as the freezers thaw that portion of food stores.
Agree on the C-rats. Shy of Lima beans and ham of course...:o)
Stay safe
Seconding that: back in the late 1980’s, my Squadron deployed to an old, shut-down Air Base in Oklahoma. The Field Mess served a hot breakfast. A buddy of mine showed me the (empty) cans of bacon and powdered eggs. They were dated 1943 and 1945, respectively. Tasted fine. . .
I had a lot of those Korean C’s in the late sixties. Problem with the cigarettes is they tasted like Chicklets.