"heatermeals" news and stories

Why does the term 'self-heating' worry me now? Maybe it has something to do with the recent recall of Wolfgang Puck's self-heating coffees. Maybe it's that the warnings for Crosse & Blackwell's Hunger Breaks HeaterMeals that say that if you're going to heat one in a car, you'd better crack a window first. Basically a commercial version of the U.S. military's Meals Ready to Eat (MREs), HeaterMeals include a small heating pad that is activated with a packet of saltwater. Get the pad hot by adding the water and then stick it back in its box with the tray of food. After it's done heating your steak and vegetables or chicken curry, the pad can be used as a body warmer, "you can even sit on it!" the manufacturer says. You could probably warm up your dinner by sitting on it too. These seem just a little different than the Kashi meals.