Survival Food Supply Companies: Nutritional Analysis

Selecting emergency food requires balancing nutritional needs with practical considerations.

This analysis examines popular options to identify companies optimizing nutrition and taste.

By comparing macronutrient profiles, vitamin content, and flavor reviews across major brands like Augason Farms and Mountain House, you'll have the information to select supplies best-suited for your family's needs.

Introduction to Survival Food Supply Companies

Survival food refers to shelf-stable food products designed to provide adequate nutrition during emergencies when access to fresh foods may be limited. As interest in emergency preparedness grows, many people look to stock up on foods that will sustain them through a crisis.

When selecting survival foods, key factors to consider include:

Long shelf life: Look for foods with shelf lives of 5+ years. This ensures they'll be viable when you need them.
Compact packaging: Since storage space may be limited, opt for foods that take up less space.
Balanced nutrition: It's important to have macros, vitamins, and minerals to support health. Avoid just stocking up on freeze-dried snacks.
Easy preparation: Choose foods that require minimal work like adding hot water. This allows for quick meals when time and utilities may be constrained.

In this article, we'll analyze some top survival food brands and evaluate their offerings based on these nutritional and practical factors. The goal is to understand which companies offer the best solutions for emergency preparedness.

What is the best survival food to stock up on?

When building an emergency food supply, it's important to have a balance of shelf-stable foods that provide adequate nutrition. Some top foods to stock up on include:

Canned and Dried Proteins

Canned varieties of meat, beans, fish, and poultry can provide protein while lasting 1-5 years in storage. Popular choices are canned chicken, tuna, salmon, beef stew, chili, baked beans, and Spam. Dried options like jerky, nuts, peanut butter, and protein powders also store well long-term.

Fruits and Vegetables

Canned produce like carrots, peas, corn, green beans, beets, pineapple, pears, peaches, and apples offer key vitamins and minerals. Tomato products, dried fruits, 100% fruit juices, and freeze-dried produce help round out the nutritional profile.

Grains, Cereals, and Starches

Rice, oats, pasta, flour, crackers, granola bars, and dehydrated potato flakes give carbohydrates for energy. Opt for whole grains when possible.

Fats and Oils

Oils like vegetable, olive, coconut, or nut oils can be stored in cool, dark places. Other high-fat shelf-stable items are nuts, nut butters, and seeds.

When building an emergency food supply, be sure to store a variety of items that can be combined into nutritionally balanced meals. Calculate about 2,000 calories per person per day. Also stock up on enough water for drinking and food preparation. Rotate and replace items as they reach expiration dates.

What are the biggest food supply companies?

The largest food supply companies in the world by market capitalization as of March 2023 are:

Nestle SA - The world's largest food company, based in Switzerland. Nestle owns many popular brands like Nescafe, KitKat, Purina, and more.
Mondelez International Inc - An American company that owns brands like Oreo, Cadbury, Toblerone. It has grown through acquisitions to become one of the biggest snack food suppliers globally.
The Hershey Co - Iconic American chocolate brand. Hershey's is the leading manufacturer of chocolate and non-chocolate confectionery and grocery products in North America.
General Mills Inc - A leading global manufacturer and marketer of branded consumer foods. General Mills is known for brands like Cheerios, Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, and more.
The Kraft Heinz Co - Formed by the merger of Kraft Foods and H.J. Heinz Company. Kraft Heinz owns brands like Kraft, Heinz, Oscar Mayer, and others.

When it comes to survival food supply companies, some of the most well-known names are Augason Farms, Patriot Supply, Valley Food Storage, ReadyWise, My Patriot Supply, and Mountain House. These companies specialize in freeze-dried foods, MREs, and other emergency food products tailored to preppers and survivalists.

Many of these survival food brands can be found at major retailers like Costco or ordered directly from the companies' websites. They emphasize shelf-life, portability, and nutritional balance for their products to meet the needs of the target consumer in emergency situations.

Does survival food really last 25 years?

Many reputable survival food companies use advanced food preservation techniques like freeze-drying and vacuum sealing to extend shelf life. However, storage conditions play a big role. When properly stored in a cool, dry, dark place, many freeze-dried and dehydrated foods can last 20-25 years before significantly declining in quality or nutritional value.

To achieve maximum shelf life, it's ideal to store survival food in an area with temperatures between 55-70°F and humidity around 40%. Exposure to extreme heat, cold, or moisture can shorten shelf life. Mylar pouches and sealed containers create an oxygen-free environment that protects against oxidation and spoilage.

Test results from companies like Augason Farms have shown their products retain excellent flavor and nutrition even after 30 years when stored properly. Of course, survival food won't literally last forever. But following best practices, you can expect decades of shelf life in an emergency. Regularly inspecting containers for damage and practicing first-in-first-out rotation helps too.

What is the best emergency food supply consumer reports?

When it comes to emergency food supplies, consumers should look for options that are nutritious, long-lasting, easy to prepare, and reasonably priced. According to recent consumer reports, some of the highest rated survival food supply companies include:

Augason Farms - This company offers a wide variety of freeze-dried and dehydrated foods with a shelf life of up to 25 years. Their emergency food kits contain balanced meals with proteins, vegetables, and grains. Their food scores well for nutrition, taste, and affordability.

Mountain House - Known for their tasty freeze-dried meals and ingredients, Mountain House gets high marks for providing foods that are compact, convenient, and nutrient-dense. Their pouches have a shelf life of over 30 years and require only hot water for preparation.

Wise Foods - This company sells individual ingredients and full meals featuring popular comfort foods. Their products are GMO-free with long shelf lives. Wise Foods offers gluten-free and vegetarian options, all certified kosher. Their tasty meals can be prepared quickly with hot water.

When selecting an emergency food supply, be sure to check the nutritional information to ensure the meals offer balanced nutrition to support health during times of crisis. Look for companies with rigorous quality controls and transparent sourcing. Purchase only what your household is likely to consume within the shelf life. With the right planning, emergency food can provide reliable, nutritious insurance against uncertainty.

Analysis of Best Survival Food Companies 2023

Several companies provide emergency food kits to help people prepare for disasters or emergencies. When considering survival food, key factors include nutritional value, taste, shelf life, and price.

Augason Farms: Nutritious Ingredients for Emergencies

Augason Farms offers ingredients like grains, beans, milk, and fruits that can sustain daily nutritional needs when emergencies strike. Their food kits provide between 2,000-4,000 calories per day, meeting energy and nutrient needs for 2 weeks up to 1 year. With ample vitamins, minerals, protein, and fiber, Augason Farms provides healthy emergency nourishment.

Mountain House: Portable, Lightweight Meals

Mountain House prepares convenient pouches and buckets of meals like pasta primavera and chicken fried rice. Made for backpackers and survivalists alike, these lightweight, compact foods are easy to transport and prepare. Though calorie-dense and loaded with protein, some meals lack sufficient fruits and vegetables.

ReadyWise: Balancing Nutrition and Convenience

ReadyWise focuses on easy preparation and nutritional balance in their short and long-term emergency kits. Including comfort foods like chili, rice, oatmeal, and shakes, ReadyWise aims to provide staple nourishment to maintain strength. However, taste and texture may vary between dishes.

When choosing survival food, consider nutritional content, ease of use, personal preferences, and affordability. Though tastes differ, companies like Augason Farms, Mountain House, and ReadyWise all offer shelf-stable foods to provide sustenance in emergencies. Compare options to find the best solution for your needs.

Nutritional Standards for Emergency Food Supplies

When preparing for emergency scenarios, having sufficient nutrition is vital. Here are some key factors to consider when evaluating survival food options:

Caloric Sufficiency for Survival Scenarios

Products should provide enough calories to prevent weight loss and fuel activity during high-stress situations. Survival food supply companies aim to supply at least 2,000 calories per day to maintain health. Consuming sufficient calories keeps energy levels up when exertion is necessary.

Optimal Macronutrient Distribution

The ratio of carbohydrates, protein, and fats impacts wellbeing over time. Products with 45-65% carbs, 10-35% protein, and 20-35% fat tend to optimize health. Balancing macronutrients this way provides steady energy from carbs, supports muscle mass with protein, and keeps you feeling full with fats.

Micronutrient Content for Immune Support

Meeting vitamin and mineral needs bolsters immunity, crucial when facing pathogens after disasters. Iron, zinc, vitamin C and B vitamins are especially important. When selecting survival food supply companies, check they provide 100% Daily Value for these essential micronutrients.

Prioritizing caloric, macronutrient, and micronutrient sufficiency ensures survival food enables you to maintain health and performance when challenges arise. Companies focused on optimizing these nutritional factors offer superior emergency preparedness.

Comparative Analysis of Nutritional Content

Here is a detailed nutritional analysis evaluating and comparing popular survival food supply companies across key health criteria:

Calorie and Macronutrient Comparison

When examining emergency food options, it's important to consider the calorie and macronutrient balance. Augason Farms provides meals with a moderate amount of calories coming from carbs, ample protein, and healthy fats. This nutrient profile fuels the body while avoiding an excess of carbohydrates.

In contrast, some companies like ReadyWise have products heavy in simple carbs from added sugars. This can lead to crashes in energy. And brands like Mountain House offer options lower in protein, which isn't ideal for maintaining strength during challenging times.

Overall, Augason Farms provides the most optimal macro balance across their product line. Their blends give enough calories for energy, without too many carbs or too little protein.

Vitamin Profiles of Top Freeze Dried Food Companies

Vitamins are crucial for supporting health, especially when facing stressful situations. Analyzing the vitamin content in survival foods reveals some clear leaders.

Specifically, Mountain House meals provide exceptional levels of key micronutrients like vitamin C, B vitamins, vitamin A, and vitamin K per calorie. Their freeze drying process manages to retain more vitamins compared to other preservation methods.

While companies like Augason Farms and ReadyWise still offer complete nutrition, Mountain House sets the standard for vitamin density in their meals. Stocking some Mountain House foods ensures your vitamin needs are covered.

Mineral Content Across Survival Food Brands

Minerals like magnesium, potassium, iron and zinc all play essential roles in the body. When evaluating survival food brands, ReadyWise products stand out for their stellar mineral content.

Across their line of freeze-dried and dehydrated foods, ReadyWise provides exceptional levels of these key minerals per calorie. Having enough minerals is vital for energy, immunity, brain function and other processes that keep the body resilient.

While all three major companies provide important minerals, ReadyWise ensures you get enough to thrive. The exceptional mineral density sets them apart as a smart choice for your emergency supply.

The Role of Taste and Practicality in Survival Food Selection

Beyond nutrition, factors like taste, texture, preparation, and storage space impact product selection when choosing emergency food supplies.

Flavor Profiles of Leading Survival Food Providers

When examining taste, Mountain House meals tend to rate highest in blind taste tests for resembling fresh-cooked flavors, while ReadyWise products often have more artificial, processed tastes according to customer reviews. However, taste preferences are subjective.

Ease of Preparation: A Critical Consideration

For those seeking quick, easy meals, ReadyWise offers fast prep with their simply rehydrated pouches and cans. Augason Farms, on the other hand, requires 20-30 minutes of cooking time for most of their food packets. Evaluating ease of preparation can ensure your food supplies align with your needs during an emergency.

Evaluating Storage Efficiency: Costco Survival Food vs. My Patriot Supply

With their advanced freeze drying process, a single #10 can of Mountain House holds as much food as 2-3 cans from Augason Farms in the same space. Costco offers competitively priced bulk storage options, while My Patriot Supply specializes in compact, space-efficient kits. Assessing storage efficiency helps maximize resources.

Final Recommendations for Optimal Survival Food Supplies

Based on nutritional content, taste, and convenience, here are our top picks among survival food brands:

Top Pick for Nutritional Value: Augason Farms

With their excellent calorie and macro balance, along with great ingredient quality, Augason Farms is a sensible choice for nutritional preparedness. Their food kits offer complete, balanced nutrition to support health during emergencies.

Best Tasting Option: Mountain House Survival Food

Mountain House earns positive reviews for enjoyable flavors and texture, making their meals more appetizing than typical emergency rations. This can lift spirits when times are hard.

Most Cost-Effective Choice: Patriot Food Supply

For budget-conscious preppers, Patriot Food Supply provides quality nutrition at affordable prices. Their food packs maximize calories and nutrients per dollar spent. With wise planning, preppers can stock up on supplies without breaking the bank.