When it comes to stocking up on emergency food supplies, canned goods are the way to go. Not only do they last for years, but they also provide essential proteins and other nutrients. Vacuum-packed bags have a shorter shelf life, but they can still last up to six months. Planning for short-term emergency food needs is as simple as increasing the quantities of basic, non-perishable foods that you would normally use.
And since your emergency preparedness kit will have a limited supply, the more higher-quality food you consume and the less, the better.Canned foods are a great choice for an emergency food supply because they can be kept almost indefinitely as long as they are not damaged, leaked, or bulky. Canned meats, which last at least two years in the pantry, generally provide essential protein. Vacuum packed bags have a shorter shelf life, but will last at least six months according to Diane Van, manager of the USDA meat and poultry hotline.When planning your emergency food supply, consider the need to refrigerate leftover canned food. For example, acidic foods such as canned fruits go bad much faster than foods with less acidity such as canned meats and vegetables.
The best possible way to keep a large quantity of canned food for use in the event of a disaster is to constantly rotate your supply.Individuals and families can eliminate some of the stress, worry, and inconvenience by planning emergency food needs. Planning for short-term emergency food needs can be as simple as increasing the quantities of some basic, non-perishable foods that you would normally use. Of course, this short-term preparation kit should include food in addition to water, personal hygiene items, flashlights, blankets and other essential items recommended for emergencies.The amount and amount of food to be stored will depend on the members of your household, their preferences, their special health conditions, the ability to use food in an emergency, and the space to store it. Most of these foods will last at least a week after you buy them and will offer you a fresh alternative to all packaged foods.If you include canned food in your emergency food supply, inspect your supply periodically to ensure that there are no rusty, leaking, bulging, or heavily dented containers and that there are no broken seals.
One way to develop a two-week emergency supply is to increase the amount of basic food items that are normally kept on the shelves. While most emergencies are unlikely to interrupt the food supply for two weeks, some people choose to consider a short-term supply as one that will last so long.The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published an article detailing how in 1974 the National Food Processors Association (NFPA) sampled canned goods found on a steamship that had sunk in 1865 - more than 100 years earlier! This goes to show just how reliable canned goods can be when it comes to stocking up on emergency supplies.Canned food was also the primary means of emergency food storage for both citizens and governments during the 1960s when the threat of a global nuclear war was a very real possibility. They are not exact and are only intended to provide you with good general guidance for using canned food as an emergency food source.
Leave Reply