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You are overthinking this. The dates on food, don't mean they are expired, they are the date the manufacture wants to you buy a new one if you haven't eaten it yet. Are Dates for Food Safet...
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#1: Post edited
by
Michael
·
2024-01-24T17:08:20Z (3 months ago)
Markdown list. Fix a couple typos.
<p>You are overthinking this.</p><p>First: The dates on food, don't mean they are expired, they are the date the manufacture wants to you buy a new one if you haven't eaten it yet. </p><blockquote><p>Are Dates for Food Safety or Quality?</p><p>Manufacturers provide dating to help consumers and retailers decide when food is of best quality. Except for infant formula, dates are not an indicator of the product’s safety and are not required by Federal law. <a href="https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/food-safety-education/get-answers/food-safety-fact-sheets/food-labeling/food-product-dating/food-product-dating" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Source</a></p></blockquote><p>Second: One EMP and your excel sheet is useless. Depending on your tolerance for risk, plan regular hands on check and inventory. This might be monthly, quarterly or annually. </p><p>Thirdly: You want stuff that is going to be there when you need it. If you have items that need to be changed every 3 months, how much value will they be if you have to count on them for an event that happened the day before your planned to change them?</p><p>Fourthly: Your Excel sheet is crutch that might cost you your life. You need to <strong>KNOW</strong> where your supplies are, you need to be able to find and identify them in the dark.</p><p>Finally speaking to scope. It doesn't matter if it is a Bug Out Kit, or an emergency preparedness kit. One day your going to be outdoors with just what you have. It doesn't matter why you built, just that you have it with you.</p><p><a href="https://outdoors.stackexchange.com/q/18220/4079">What types of food make for good emergency rations that I can store in a car?</a></p>
- You are overthinking this.
- 1. The dates on food, don't mean they are expired, they are the date the manufacture wants to you buy a new one if you haven't eaten it yet.
- > ### [Are Dates for Food Safety or Quality?](https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/food-safety-education/get-answers/food-safety-fact-sheets/food-labeling/food-product-dating/food-product-dating)
- >
- > Manufacturers provide dating to help consumers and retailers decide when food is of best quality. Except for infant formula, dates are not an indicator of the product’s safety and are not required by Federal law.
- 2. One EMP and your Excel sheet is useless. Depending on your tolerance for risk, plan regular hands-on check and inventory. This might be monthly, quarterly, or annually.
- 3. You want stuff that is going to be there when you need it. If you have items that need to be changed every 3 months, how much value will they be if you have to count on them for an event that happened the day before you planned to change them?
- 4. Your Excel sheet is crutch that might cost you your life. You need to **know** where your supplies are; you need to be able to find and identify them in the dark.</p>
- Finally speaking to scope: It doesn't matter if it is a Bug Out Kit, or an emergency preparedness kit. One day you're going to be outdoors with just what you have. It doesn't matter why you built it, just that you have it with you.
- Also see: [What types of food make for good emergency rations that I can store in a car?](https://outdoors.stackexchange.com/q/18220/4079)