Emergency food bars are an essential part of disaster preparedness, providing shelf-stable, ready-to-eat calories for earthquakes, evacuations, shelter-in-place events, workplace preparedness, and emergency response planning. Unlike everyday snacks, emergency food bars are designed for emergency use: they are calorie-dense, non-thirst-provoking, and require no cooking, heating, or refrigeration.
Food bars are available in multiple calorie sizes, including 400-calorie portions and larger 1200, 2400, and 3600-calorie units that support short-term rations. Some brands package the larger calorie sizes as individually wrapped internal portions (ideal for schools, workplaces, and emergency caches), while others use a single compressed bar that can be broken into servings. Both designs provide efficient emergency calories and support organized rationing.
Most emergency food bars have a five-year shelf life, and select products offer extended shelf-life versions. Many include enriched vitamins and minerals to support energy needs during short-term emergencies. Their compact size makes food bars a cost-effective solution for building preparedness supplies for families, schools, workplaces, CERT teams, and large-scale institutional storage.
Emergency food bars are widely used in 72-hour emergency kits, go-bags, classroom buckets, workplace kits, emergency bins, and disaster relief support. Their long shelf life, compact storage footprint, and lack of preparation requirements make them a practical option for organizations supporting large groups during an emergency.
Why Millennium bars are often chosen for young children
Preschool and elementary programs often select the 400 calorie New Millennium bar because children are more likely to eat a familiar flavored snack than a compressed multi-portion ration. The smaller serving size, bright packaging, and fruit flavors can reduce food refusal and make distribution easier for teachers. For K-5 and younger, this improves compliance during shelter-in-place or lockdown events.
FAQ
How many emergency food bars do I need per person?
A standard 72-hour emergency supply includes 2400–3600 calories per person, depending on the brand. One 2400-calorie bar typically supports one person for up to three days at minimum ration levels.
Do emergency food bars require water to consume?
No. Emergency food bars are designed to be non-thirst-provoking and can be eaten safely without cooking or added water.
How long do emergency food bars last?
Most bars have a five-year shelf life, and select options offer longer shelf-life versions. Vacuum-sealed packaging helps preserve product quality and allows bars to tolerate significant temperature swings common in emergency storage environments. Once opened, the bar should be consumed shortly thereafter.
Are emergency food bars suitable for children?
Yes. Smaller portion sizes, such as 400-calorie bars are commonly used in school and family kits because they allow age-appropriate serving and easy consumption. Many schools include these bars in classroom emergency kits for this reason.
Are any of the bars gluten-free, allergy-free, vegan, or Kosher?
No. All major emergency bars contain wheat and are not gluten-free. SOS bars contain coconut, which is classified as a tree nut under FDA allergen guidance, but they are peanut-free and dairy-free. Select Mayday products are marketed as vegan. Many SOS emergency food bars and New Millennium flavored bars are Certified Kosher (OU).
Why are SOS bars no longer labeled nut-free if the recipe hasn’t changed?
Coconut is now classified as a tree nut under FDA allergen guidance. The ingredient listing did not change, but the regulatory definition did. Because the bars contain coconut, they can no longer be labeled as nut-free, even though they remain peanut-free and dairy-free.
How are emergency food bars packaged?
Packaging varies by manufacturer. Some bars include individually wrapped internal portions for easier distribution and rationing, while others are a single compressed bar that can be broken into servings. Both styles meet the same emergency calorie requirements.
Why choose bars instead of MREs or freeze-dried meals?
Bars provide ready-to-eat emergency calories without cooking, fuel, or added water, and take up minimal storage space. They are widely used in 72-hour emergency kits, go-bags, classroom buckets, workplace kits, emergency bins, and disaster support deployments.
