Survival Food & Shelf Life

Ordinary canned goods may remain fresh for about a year.

People planning for emergency survival situations may buy up cheap canned goods at the grocery store without realizing that these products may remain good for only a year or so, according to the Discovery Channel. Special formulations and packages can push this safety envelope to at least five years, with certain freeze-dried canned goods lasting up to 30 years, depending on the package type that best suits the survivor's situation.

Priorities

Survival foods must do more than last a long time. They must also address the survivor's complete nutritional needs, either through one dish or a pre-packaged combination of dishes, for however long the survivor may need to live on them. They must also provide as many calories as possible in a small amount of space. The Discovery Channel states that the average person must consume 1,500 to 2,000 calories a day to remain healthy.

Containment Methods

Canned foods take up more shelf space than other types of packaged foods. Foods canned for regular commercial sale have a relatively short shelf life compared to products designed for emergency provisioning. Freeze-dried foods packed in heavily lined No. 10 cans with added nitrogen can remain good for decades. People who must prioritize their shelf space or plan to feed themselves while on the move can use ration pouches that offer several years of shelf life and nutrition.

Mobile Solutions

The United States military developed their current "Meals, Ready to Eat" or MRE rations in 1981. These rations come in sets of flexible metallic pouches, with each meal providing about 1,200 calories. MRE Info states that while some military suppliers cannot sell MREs to civilians, some companies make MREs for civilian use. Freeze-dried meals for backpackers offer even more portability than MRE rations but require the addition of hot water. The U.S. Coast Guard uses food bars made from shortbread and packed with calories as an emergency survival food at sea.

Comparative Shelf Life

Canned meats, fruits or vegetables from the grocery store can go bad after as little as one year, and many of these items tend to contain more water than actual nourishment. Mobile rations such as MRE pouches, freeze-dried foods and food bars have an average shelf life of five years. The freeze-dried No. 10 cans offer the longest shelf life of any "survival foods," providing safe sustenance for up to 30 years.

Considerations

People shopping for survival foods should consider what applications will apply to their particular situation. If they foresee a need to evacuate or travel to an isolated area, they should consider portable options, and if they will not have access to water they should choose MREs or shortbread food bars over freeze-dried backpacking meals. Apartment occupants who may have to evacuate and have no portable heating options should choose MREs that come with their own chemical heater. Residents with no likely evacuation options in an emergency should select the No. 10 cans for maximum shelf life.

References

• Discovery Channel: Food Supply
• MRE Info: Civilian MREs