Three days of food without the panic buying
Build a pantry that looks like normal food.
An emergency food supply can be ordinary food. The most useful items are familiar, safe to store and possible to eat without heating when electricity is off.
Choose practical items
Consider ready-to-eat tins, crackers, nut butter, long-life snacks and shelf-stable foods your household enjoys. Keep a manual tin opener. Think about allergies, dietary needs, infant feeding and pet food. Prepare roughly three days of meals for everyone.
Rotate rather than hoard
Put aside a little at a time during normal shopping. Use older items in everyday meals and replace them. Check storage instructions and expiry dates regularly so nothing goes to waste.
Food safety first
Refrigerated and frozen food can become unsafe in a prolonged power cut. Follow official food-safety guidance rather than relying on taste or smell. Never use outdoor-only cooking appliances indoors. You can cover several of these steps with our free tasks.
Information is general preparedness guidance. During emergencies, follow official alerts and the instructions of emergency services.
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