Why is the Government Still Stockpiling Survival Food?

It really is a small world ... especially in the preparedness and survival industries. With a community that prides itself on staying informed, you can't really keep things secret for long. So it's no surprise that we were among the first to get wind of some very unsettling news. In fact, it was so disturbing that we felt it was only right to share with you what we've learned.

One of the nation's largest suppliers of dehydrated food has cut loose 99% of their dealers and distributors. And it's not because of the poor economy. It's because this particular industry leader can no longer supply their regular distribution channels. Why not? Because they're using every bit of manufacturing capacity they have to fulfill massive new government contracts. Look, the government has always been a customer of the industry to some extent. But according to our sources, this latest development doesn't represent simply a change of vendor on the government's part. It's a whole new magnitude of business.

And that's not all.

Apparently, even though they've cut off their regular consumer markets, the industry leader I've just mentioned still can't produce enough survival food to meet the government's vast requirements. How do we know? Not long ago, FEMA (the Federal Emergency Management Agency) put out a Request for Proposal, or RFP, for even more dehydrated food. The RFP called for a 10-day supply of meals - for 14 million people. That's 420 million meals. Typically, FEMA maintains a stockpile of about 6 million meals. Why the sudden need to increase the stockpile by 420 million more? (And that's in addition to whatever our aforementioned industry leader is supplying.) It almost seems like they're trying to stock a modern day "Noah's Ark," doesn't it?

By the way, just days after the RFP went online, it suddenly went "poof" ... vanished. Could it be that some high level official suddenly realized he was letting the cat out of the bag? That people aren't stupid, and would recognize the implications of 420 million emergency meals? Has the government removed the RFP from the public process and approached potential suppliers privately instead? We may never know.

But here's what we do know. This kind of spending by a minor government agency in this economy just doesn't make sense ... unless there are extraordinary circumstances behind it, circumstances we aren't privy to. Because of all the wrangling in Washington, D.C., over the budget these days, all extras are curtailed. Agencies are spending far less on travel and training expenses, for instance. And they certainly don't start stockpiling supplies.

In this economic climate, you would expect FEMA also to be minimizing expenses. But clearly, they're not. If you do the math, the approximate tab for 420 million meals comes to about a billion dollars.

What is so urgent that FEMA is spending a billion dollars on survival food?
Could officials be worried about extensive power grid damage from solar flares? (A big one hit a few months ago and took out communications in China.) Are they worried about riots and demonstrations causing gridlock in communities? (Even Obama supporter James Carville is talking about "civil unrest" being "imminently possible.") Are they worried about terrorist attacks? (Since the death of Osama bin Laden, intelligence agencies have been ramping up their vigilance even more.)

But here's the most important question. No matter what it is - are you ready for it?

Are the cans of soup and the extra jar of peanut butter in your pantry going to be enough? How long will it last you? Because let's face it, in a true emergency, forget about finding what you need at the store. You know what it's like when there's even a moderate snowstorm in the forecast - no bottled water, no toilet paper, no bread to be found anywhere. The shelves are stripped bare in hours. Most people simply don't realize how fragile the food distribution system is in this country. In order to squeeze out every penny of profits, most stores now use just-in-time inventory systems, which leave no margin for error. Any kind of natural or manmade catastrophe would cut supply lines to the stores and leave millions of people with no way of getting food. And it could be anything. Power outages. Riots. A terrorist attack. Flooding. Blizzards. Hurricanes.

If you've never gotten around to buying an emergency food supply,
now is the time.

If you've been putting off this decision, perhaps it's because there's a lot to consider. Things like shelf life, nutritional value, cost, storage space, portability, and even the packaging. The ideal storage food is shelf stable for long periods of time, nutritious, great tasting, easy to prepare, and easy to store. So where can you find the best emergency food supply for your money?

The 72 Hour Emergency Meal Kit from Solutions From Science fits the bill on all counts. It's shelf stable for up to 25 years, compact, delicious, convenient, and nutritious. We recommend you get at least one Kit per family member. Each Kit provides 12 meal servings for one person for 3 days. Plus, you won't have to worry about eating the same thing meal after meal. The 72 Hour Emergency Meal Kit gives you six pouches with two jumbo servings in each pouch. It comes in four delicious varieties: Savory Stroganoff, Teriyaki and Rice, Pasta Alfredo, Cheesy Lasagna, Chili Macaroni and Creamy Pasta and Vegetable Rotini. No other emergency meal kits give you a better value, and here's why:

Filling and delicious - today, tomorrow, or 25 years from now
The food in our 72 Hour Emergency Meal Kit is designed to last up to 25 years in optimal storage conditions. How is that possible? First, we use no animal proteins, which can make food rancid. Next, we remove excess oxygen by flushing the package interior with nitrogen to prevent food spoilage. Each package is sealed to protect against moisture, sunlight, and critters. The compact packaging makes it easy to grab and go, too, if you need to get to a safer location. You can even store some in the trunk of your car, just in case.

Flavorful enough to eat even when there's no emergency
Every one of our recipes is developed by expert chefs who understand that survival food is only as good as it tastes. When you're in an emergency situation, enjoying a tasty meal helps to keep stress down and morale up. Some people even use our emergency meal pouches as Plan B when they don't have time to get a home-cooked meal on the table. It's that good! It's also ideal to take along when you go camping, backpacking, fishing, or hunting. The secret is in the careful preservation of the ingredients. Some companies cut corners by either freeze-drying all ingredients, or by dehydrating all ingredients. We don't; we use the right preservation technique for each food. This ensures that flavor, texture, color, and nutrients are all preserved optimally.

"Stick a fork in it!"
Our unique cook-in-the-pouch technology means you don't have to worry about finding or washing a cooking pot. To prepare a meal, you simply open the meal pouch, add boiling water, reseal, and wait 12 minutes. Then dive in with a fork or spoon and enjoy. It's that easy! What if you don't have a way to heat the water in an emergency? Use cold water instead. It just takes a few minutes more.

Who's got the real "value meal?"
If you take advantage of our special sale, you'll pay just $3.25 per serving. It's a value that can't be beat. That cost is easily in line with what you'd normally spend per person for lunch or dinner. You can't even buy a fast food "value meal" for $3.25. And "value meals" don't stay shelf stable for long periods of time.

Won't you sleep better at night knowing you and your family will have food on the table (or in the pouch), no matter what may happen? I urge you not to delay; order your supply of emergency food today.

The first 72 hours in any emergency are critical. Having a plan in place to ensure everyone has food is one of the top priorities. That's why we recommend you get at least one Kit per family member. But if your budget allows, we urge you to stock up and get even more. We've developed a very special offer for you - but it won't last long, so hurry!

Be well,

Bill Heid
President, Solutions From Science