72-hour emergency food list
The foods named on the official lists that give examples: the Netherlands, Finland, Norway, the US (FEMA) and Switzerland. Everything here keeps at room temperature and can be eaten without cooking. The number shows how many of those five lists name it.
Water
3 litres per person per day: 9 litres each for 72 hours (Netherlands, Denmark, Switzerland; Norway’s 20 litres a week is about the same).
Ready to eat
- Tinned fish or meat5 of 5
- Dried fruit (raisins, prunes, dates)5 of 5
- Tinned vegetables, fruit or beans4 of 5
- Crispbread, crackers or rusks4 of 5
- Muesli, cereal or oat flakes4 of 5
- Long-life milk or plant drink4 of 5
- Jam, honey, apple syrup or peanut butter4 of 5
- Nuts and seeds4 of 5
- Chocolate3 of 5
- Biscuits and cereal or protein bars3 of 5
- Ready meals and soups in tins or pouches3 of 5
- Juice in cartons or tins2 of 5
Also
- Baby food and formula, if needed
- Pet food, if needed
- Manual can opener
Buying and storing
- Stock food you already eat, and rotate it: use the oldest first and replace it, so nothing expires unnoticed.
- For 72 hours, choose food that keeps at room temperature and can be eaten without cooking: tins, crispbread, dried fruit, nuts, muesli, long-life milk.
- For a week or longer, add dry staples such as rice, pasta, oats and pulses, plus oil, salt and sugar, and a stove to cook on.
- Dry staples need water to cook: count it in your water stock.
- Store food cool, dry and dark, in airtight containers once opened.
- Allow for babies, special diets, allergies and pets.
- Keep a manual can opener, and throw away tins that are swollen, dented or rusty.
Official sources: Netherlands: Rijksoverheid; Finland: 72hours.fi (SPEK); Norway: DSB; USA: Ready.gov (FEMA); Switzerland: BWL.