Select a question:

• Can I place a phone order?
  Due to the high volume of orders we are no longer able to accept retail orders over the phone. Mountain House is only able to accept orders through our website with a credit card payment or by mail order. To request a catalog for mail orders, please call us at 1-800-547-0244 or you can email us at mh-info@ofd.com.

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• Can you ship to an APO address?
  Yes we can ship to APO addresses. We ship all APO orders through the United States Postal Service. When entering the ship to address leave the State/Province field "Select" and in the Other State/Province field enter APO or FPO. You will be contacted by a customer service rep regarding the freight amount prior to your order being shipped.

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• Do you ship outside of the USA?
  Due to import regulations on meat and poultry we are not able to ship Mountain House to individuals who live outside the USA.

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• What is your return policy?
  Mountain House's return policy is no returns on food items unless the product is damaged or defective. If you have a damaged or defective pouch, please call 1-800-547-0244 for a return authorization.

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• Will my personal information be sold to mailing lists?
  Information about our customers is an important part of our business. The only information we collect is what you submit to us and is used only by Mountain House for Marketing and research purposes. We are not in the business of selling the information we collect to others.

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• When can I expect to receive my order once I have placed the order?
  All orders placed on our website Monday-Friday, excluding holidays, will be shipped within two business days. If you mail your order to us, your order will be shipped within two business days after we receive the order in the mail. All orders will be shipped via FedEx Ground (except APO address)unless you have requested faster freight. Your order should arrive 7-10 days once it has been shipped.

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• What is the difference between the 16oz., 20oz. and 40oz. entrees?
  The 16oz. entree is considered a Single-Serve entree and makes 2 cups of food by volume. The 20oz. entree is considered a Double-Serve entree and makes approximately 2 1/2 cups of food by volume. However many people eat this as a single serve item, depending on the necessary caloric intake. The 40oz. entree is considered a Four-Serve entree and makes approximately 5 cups of food by volume. This larger size pouch has two inner preparation pouches inside and can be evenly split between two people.

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• What is the shelf life of Mountain House products?
  Pouches
  Based on storage studies conducted over many years, our pouch shelf life -- where the quality of our food is nearly indistinguishable from new production -- is at least 10 years from the date of manufacture, if stored properly. We have personally tasted pouches that were 30 years old and they still taste great! For best results, we recommend the pouches be stored unopened in a cool dry area. Our ice creams have a 2 year shelf life, if stored properly.
  
  For more information about our shelf life, please click on "Shelf Life" under "Product Information" on the left.
  
  #10 Cans
  Our products packed in #10 cans offer a 25+ year shelf life. We have personally tasted product that is 35 years old and it still tastes great! After opening, we recommend using the contents within 1 week for best results and taste. Use the convenient resealable plastic lid between uses. Treat any leftover food as you would fresh food.
  
  For more information about our shelf life, please click on "Shelf Life" under "Product Information" on the left.

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• What happens after the shelf life has passed?
  Pouches
  We guarantee a 10 year shelf life (under recommended storage conditions) for quality of taste and appearance. After 10 years, as long as the pouch has not been punctured or opened, you might notice a slight difference in taste and appearance. We have personally tasted pouches that were 30 years old and they still taste great!
  
  #10 Cans
  We guarantee a 25 year shelf life (under recommended storage conditions) for quality of taste and appearance. After 30 years, as long as the can has not been punctured or opened, you might notice a slight difference in taste and appearance. We have personally tasted cans that were 35 years old and they still taste great!

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• How can I read the manufacture date on your products?
  The product manufacturing code appears on the back of Mountain House pouches (along the nutritional panel) and on the bottom of Mountain House cans. The date in the code represents the date on which the product was packaged. Starting January of 2001 we are now printing BEST IF USED BY dates on the back of each pouch.
  
  2006 and after:
  EXAMPLE: 09349 1324

  09 =	Year 2009
  349 =	Julian Date (example = 349th day of the year = December 15)
  1324 =	Military time

  
  1989 - 2006:
  EXAMPLE: 99028 CIA

  99 =	Year
  028 =	Julian Date (example = 28th day of the year = January 28)
  CIA =	Production Operator's Initials

  
  Prior to 1989:
  EXAMPLE: T20394D

  T =	Year (example "T" = 1987; see below*)
  203 =	Julian Date (example = 203rd day of the year = July 22)
  94D =	Internal tracking system code number

  
  *The year code can be understood as follows:

  A	1970	F	1975	K	1980	R	1985
  B	1971	G	1976	L	1981	S	1986
  C	1972	H	1977	M	1982	T	1987
  D	1973	I	1978	N	1983	U	1988
  E	1974	J	1979	P	1984

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• How do I become a Mountain House Dealer?
  All potential dealers must meet the following requirements:
  1. A retail store front location and/or a E-Commerce store front with a working shopping cart.
  2. Offer many items directly related to the camping/preparedness market.
  3. Been in business for at least 6 months.
  4. Copy of current business license. License must show that your company is in an outdoor preparedness/camping related business.
  
  We no longer allow or accept door-to-door (direct marketing) dealers. To request a dealer application and a copy of our dealer requirements, please email mh-info@ofd.com.
  
  In Canada please contact our distributor World Famous Sales...Tel (905) 738-4777, Fax (905) 738-5052.

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• What is the difference between Mountain House and Marine Cuisine?
  The only difference between Mountain House and Marine Cuisine is the packaging. Both brands contain the exact same great tasting meals and 7 year shelf life. The Marine Cuisine is geared towards the boating industry and the Mountain House brand is geared towards the backpacking/camping industry.

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• Do you have any gluten free meals?
  Currently we do not have any meals we declare as gluten free. However, we do have a small selection of meals that do not contain wheat gluten. For a complete listing of our ingredients or to obtain the items that do not contain wheat gluten, please contact mh-info@ofd.com. We are happy to email you this information.

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• Why do you put so much sodium in your product?
  Our products were orignally designed to fit a high-performance lifestyle, replacing some of the sodium lost during heavy exertion. However, we understand today's concern regarding high sodium and we ARE making improvements to all of our products to reduce sodium.

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• How much water is required per pouch?
  Pro Pak Entrees - 1 ½ cup boiling
  Double Serve Entrees - 2 cups boiling (53171 1 ½ cups boiling)
  Vegetables - 1 cup boiling
  Breakfast - 1 cup boiling (53449 - ½ cup cold)
  Desserts:
  Rasp Crumble - 1 1/3 cup boiling
  Chocolate Strawberry Crunch - 2 cups Cold
  Blueberry Cheesecake - 1/4 cup Boiling, 1 cup Cold

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• Does Mountain House use ingredients from China?
  Mountain House purchases hundreds of ingredients from all over the world. Out of the hundreds of ingredients we use, there are only 3 ingredients from China. These 3 ingredients are used in the following flavors: Spicy Oriental, Chicken Teriyaki, Beef Teriyaki.

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• Does Mountain House offer any bulk discounts?
  Mountain House does not offer any bulk discounts. We do have many dealers that offer perks like free shipping on large orders. We encourage you to shop around and check other dealer websites to compare prices.

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• Can I purchase a food storage kit in cans through Mountain House?
  Mountain House does not make any storage kits using our #10 cans. The only kits we have available contain pouches: our 7-Day Just-In-Case and our 72 Hour Kit.

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• What are the chemicals used in our Mountain Oven?
  It is a simple combination of powdered food grade iron and magnesium. When salt water is poured on the heater pad the Food Heater releases enough heat to warm-up a pre-cooked meal 100 degrees Fahrenheit in approximately 10 minutes. This patented technology generates an exothermic, electro chemical reaction. Spent heaters are biodegradable and easily disposed of as ordinary household watse, with no toxic materials.

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• If I request a faster freight method, what does that mean?
  Your order will still be shipped 2 business days after you place it. Then we will ship it via the freight method you requested. For example, if you request 3-day air, your order will arrive in 5 business days. Normal ground shipping will take between 7-10 days to arrive.

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• Why do the Mountain House kits only have a 6 year shelf life printed on the case?
  Because we pull pouches from bulk inventory, the individual pouches will have various BIUB dates printed on them. To ensure we are covering the range of BIUB dates, we print a 6 year shelf life on the outer case of the kits. However, when you open the kit(s) you will see the actual BIUB date on the individual pouch, which will be closer to the 7 years.

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• What are the dimensions of a #10 can?
  The dimensions of a #10 can are 5.5" x 6" x 7" (LxWxH).

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• How much does an empty #10 can weigh?
  An empty #10 can weighs approximately 8.5 oz. (240 grams).

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• Is the inner ice cream paper pouch suppose to have a slit?
  Yes! The slit in the inner ice cream pouch is needed as an aid in the freeze drying process.

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• Can our entree's be prepared with cold/room temperature water?
  The short answer is YES. All of our entree's are fully cooked and then freeze dried. In an extreme situation if you had to use cold or room temperature water, the re-hydration time would be twice as long (about 18-20 minutes).

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• How much water is needed for the 72 Hour Just In Case Kit?
  12 cups

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• How much water is required for the Mountain Oven?
  The plastic bottle provided in the Mountain Oven Flameless Heating Kit requires 6 ounces of water per use.

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• How does the shelf life of Mountain House pouches compare to other brands?
  We know of no other pouch on the market with a shelf life as long as Mountain House.
  
  It is important to note that we use the commonly understood definition of "shelf life", namely the point at which the product not only tastes great, but is virtually indistinguishable from new production. Some brands use a "will sustain life" redefinition of shelf life, which we don't think serves customer needs, especially in light of the situations in which they will need emergency food.

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If you do not find the answer to your question, please click the contact us button or email us at mh-info@ofd.com. You can also call our customer service department at 1-800-547-0244.