Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I was enthusiastic about receiving this pack as the idea of an emergency food system with a 5-year shelf life was a nice concept. My enthusiasm dulled when the order arrived and I read the ingredient list-- which explained why that list isn't put on the advertisement itself. Here's the bottom line concept: if you're going to BUY survival food... buy GOOD survival food. This stuff is about the equivalent of sugar frosted flakes dipped in fat. People speak of feeling "hungry" when they eat these. The reason is because the nutrition is lacking to counteract hunger, much less meet the body's food requirements. This is full of "empty calories". The first ingredient is sugar. The third ingredient is shortening-- the worst kind of fat. To put it plainly: nutritionally this is garbage. There are far better emergency ration options available for the same money, and even at less packing weight for those putting together bug-out bags. When considering an emergency ration, remember you not only need to take in calories but it needs to keep you in relatively decent shape, as you may need to be physically active to save yourself and/or others. Especially in an emergency situation where one not only needs to eat but keep up one's strength, this is not a good option. Here's the nutritional data: 1 "cookie" (410 calories): 18g of fat including 7g of saturated fat and 3.5g of trans fat (the bad kind of fats) 31g sugar (25g is the daily recommended limit... and they're suggesting we eat 3 of these a day for a total of 93g of sugar) 1g fiber (not near enough to help process the sugar content) 8g of protein (24g for 3 of them). Since the daily recommended intake is around 65 grams, this is about 1/3 one's daily protein need. After three days on this "food" one is likely to feel quite weak. If one's idea of "food", exclusively for three solid days, is candy-level breakfast cereal served on shortening... this is exactly that. The results physically: it will provide a burst of energy, possibly make some people ill to their stomachs because of the high-fat content and fail to satisfy hunger because it's nutritionally devoid of essential nutrients and will ultimately leave one feeling weak as the sugar high wears off. The ad says "Coast Guard approved for 5 year shelf life". That's possibly true. That doesn't mean it's Coast Guard approved for essential nutrition and well-being in an emergency situation. Labeling something as an "emergency food pack" doesn't make it a good survival food choice. Those ingredient lists and nutrition tables are important. The idea is actual survival. There are options: dehydrated and vacuum-packed fruit and nuts along with vacuum-sealed jerky would be a far better choice. A wise shopper can form a 3-day emergency food pack with far better nutrition for the same price... or even lower, and at considerably lower packing weight. A 5-year shelf life does not make up for being literally "junk food". It's better to get something with a 1- or 2-year shelf life and rotate it. Final thoughts: As has been pointed out by other customers, the foil packs are easily damaged and the vacuum broken. If that happens these packs become useless and the "5-year shelf life" irrelevant. Damage can easily happen in an emergency situation unless these are very-well packed and protected. My pack was accidentally (and easily) pierced just while examining it. Also, while these have an active life of 72 hours once opened, trail mix or dehydrated foods can last 1-2 weeks once subjected to air. If one is trying to form an emergency pack there are far better and wiser choices.