Two opened packs of compressed emergency food ration bars with bars on paper

Emergency food rations

Compact, ready-to-eat food bars for 3 days. No cooking, no water needed to prepare.

Amount: 3 days for one adult
Energy: about 2,400 kcal per day
Form: Pre-portioned baked bars in a sealed pack
Preparation: None. Eat straight from the pack.
Shelf life: Typically 5 years from production, sealed. Check the date on the pack.

Johannes Pribyl (Jokep), CC BY-SA 3.0 · Photo credits

These rations are made for the moment when shops are closed and there is no power to cook. Each pack holds enough energy for one adult for three days, in pre-portioned bars.

The bars are baked, dry and mild in taste. You can eat them straight from the pack, in a shelter, in a car or on foot. They don’t need heating and they don’t make you thirsty the way salty snacks do.

Three days is the usual starting point in civil protection advice. It is the time it may take for help or normal supply to return after a sudden event.

Why it’s in the kit

Food is easy to forget until it is gone. Canned food is heavy and needs an opener. Fresh food spoils without a fridge. Sealed ration bars stay good for years and weigh little, so you can grab them and leave.

Storage & maintenance

Store the pack sealed, in a cool and dry place. Heat shortens shelf life. Avoid cars in summer and lofts. Don’t puncture the foil. Replace the pack before the date printed on it, and eat the old one as a snack on a hike.

How to use it

Open only when needed
Keep the outer pack sealed until you really need the food. Once open, it lasts much less time.
Split the day's portion
Divide one day's bars into 3 or 4 small meals. Small meals spread through the day keep your energy steady.
Drink with every meal
The bars are dry. Drink water with them, but you don't need extra water to prepare them.
Reseal the rest
Fold the opened pack tightly or put the bars in a zip bag to keep out moisture and insects.