I can't speak for the quality, but I just found these on the web. They come in self-heating and regular configurations.

http://www.coyotecamp.com/index.html

Thanks for passing the link along! Looks interesting...

"Non-self-heating meals with pop-top tin or microwavable entrees. "

Cans are heavy, and anything microwavable means that it comes in something plastic, making it harder to heat. They look like interesting items, but I'm going to say that without more information about thier exact contents, that is the special kind of "interesting".

Agreed 'raven. From what I could gather, a great deal of the add-on items were grocery shelf fare I could pick up on my own. In that case, if they sell self-heat meals without those items that's of interest to me. If I have to eat cold Hormel chili and lug around a lot of canned goods, I'm gonna pass. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Perhaps soon we will see more canned goods packaged in retort pouches like MREs. Even now, you can find Tuna like that.

I've already seen chicken and I think roast beef in them. Plus the seafoods like tuna, salmon, clams, oysters, entire filets, etc. I think I saw ham as well...

I'm sure they'll have stews and RTE soups in them soon enough.

Where are you seeing the chicken and the roast beef? <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> Maybe they aren't available in Vermont yet.

There's a reason why MRE's are known to the British Army as Meals Rejected by (starving) Ethiopians. They are bloody awful. Anything, but anything is better.The British composition ration pack is infinitly superior. Given the general superior quality of the equipment an American, this is something that causes bafflement this side of the pond. Wonder if someone is trying to "motivate" people. As in your stuck eating this c... untill you win the war?

"...Meals Rejected by (starving) Ethiopians..."

I ate my first MRE about 6 months ago, and about a half dozen since then. I like them--so much so that I bought 3 cases to augment my emergency stash. A Marine buddy who was in Gulf War One also used to call them the same thing. I gather they have improved/expanded the menu since then though.

It's common wisdom in the British Army that the best way to "trade" with our American bretheren for various comfort's is to come bearing a a case of Compo, A bottle of whiskey and a regimental t-shirt or two. Draw your own conclusion's.

Odd, I've been told by several friends that when they've been deployed with Her Majesty's forces, that they get stuff for MREs. Probably a matter of eating the same 12 meals for so long, anything different looks good.

Lemme guess. In return you got an MC Hammer CD, a Penthouse Forum, and an MRE #12 desert (pumpkin-flavored figgy pudding--mmmm!)

BTW, what the hell is "Compo?"

Okay, chicken was Tyson, and was retort bag. But, Hormel produces DM Beef Stew, Chicken with rice and about 8-10 other precooked entrees in little plastic sealed tubs. The Chicken is good until Jan. 09 and the tubs are good until Oct. 07.

The tubs are microwaveable/boilable... not sure if they would work with flameless heaters though.

"Compo" is BritSpeak for Composition Ration Pack. And the case I heared about involved "trading" for the very good quality campbed kits that you chaps get provided with.

The only thing I haven't heard of people trying to trade is rifles. Basically, I think every soldier complains about the food. I know one guy who loves the steak and kidney meal your guys are issued- he used to swap our ham omlette for them in the first Gulf War! Another guy I know swapped american batteries for the coffee in the french ration packs while part of KFOR- better batteries for better coffee?

*shrugs*

Even the best rations have got to get pretty old after a month or two. I think after a month on MRE's I would be craving vegetables and fresh bread more than anything.