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  Continental Can's 'Apollo 11 Lunar Food Pack'

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Author Topic:   Continental Can's 'Apollo 11 Lunar Food Pack'
rgarner
Member

Posts: 1193
From: Shepperton, United Kingdom
Registered: Mar 2012

posted 03-17-2016 05:02 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for rgarner   Click Here to Email rgarner     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
So I'm sitting here watching Pawn Stars and a guy walks in with several silver foil packets from Continental Can Co. (633 Third Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10017) — Series 6 Episode 23.

Each foil packet has a large printing stating: "The Apollo 11 Lunar Food Pack."

It looks promotional to me, but felt it necessary to point this out as I know a fair few people here are researching Apollo food. There is a sticker on one, the others are blank:

TURKEY AND GRAVY
DATE: 6-5-69
LOT NO: RD-1653
PN: Feb 39104127-306
US ARMY NATICK LABS
I have read up on Apollo food myself but have never come across anything like this in my reading.

Joel Katzowitz
Member

Posts: 808
From: Marietta GA USA
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 03-17-2016 06:32 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Joel Katzowitz   Click Here to Email Joel Katzowitz     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I can't speak to the authenticity of the Apollo food packet, but I have an "exact reproduction" of the food tube used by John Glenn on his MA-6 flight. The reproduction tube was issued by the American Can Company and was obviously a promotional piece. It also states "Refrigerate after opening".

Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 03-17-2016 07:06 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
A 2015 interview with Joseph Brostek sheds some light:
In 1969 I worked for Continental Can Co. which made food pouches that let astronauts Armstrong and Aldrin eat real food during the Apollo 11 moon landing. (Before that, they had to eat "mush.") When I learned our product was going to the moon, I created a plan with a letter from Continental's CEO inserted in a pouch using stamps from the Apollo 8 mission that had circled the moon. I had them postmarked in Apollo, PA on the day the men were on the moon. Mailed to 500 leaders around the country, they became instant collectors' items.
Separately, here's a photo of one of the food packs, as sold by Heritage:

moorouge
Member

Posts: 2454
From: U.K.
Registered: Jul 2009

posted 03-24-2016 09:26 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for moorouge   Click Here to Email moorouge     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
There is a turkey and gravy meal listed as a wet pack for Armstrong on day 3 of the Apollo 11 flight. His full meal schedule can be found within the pages of the Apollo 11 Press Pack.

spacehiker
Member

Posts: 386
From: London, UK
Registered: Aug 2009

posted 02-26-2019 02:15 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for spacehiker   Click Here to Email spacehiker     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Does anyone have any further information on these food paks? Have any come up for auction? Any idea as to value?

spacehiker
Member

Posts: 386
From: London, UK
Registered: Aug 2009

posted 03-02-2019 01:38 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for spacehiker   Click Here to Email spacehiker     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I managed to pick one of these up on eBay recently and wondered whether anyone has any further information on it?

All times are CT (US)

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