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You know all the food and water in your hurricane emergency kit? You might want to think about consuming some of it, as the shelf life might not be as long as you think.
The CDC recently posted on their Twitter account that commercially bottled water needs to be replaced once a year, and that got us also thinking also about the shelf life of all the canned goods so many of us store in our hurricane emergency kits.
The Red Cross recommends replacing commercially bottled water supplies annually, although if water is stored in a cool, dry place theoretically it's good for much longer. And if you bottle your own water from the tap, replace the supply every six months.
Kay Wilkins, CEO of the Southeast Louisiana Region of the Red Cross says canned goods should also be rotated out of your emergency kit, with many now carrying an expiration date of two years.
According to the Department of Agriculture highly acidic foods like tomatoes, fruit and fruit juice can be stored for up to 18 months, and lower acid foods like vegetables and meat can generally be stored for two to five years. And if PB and J sandwiches are in your emergency plans, the jelly is usually only good for one year.
Most canned goods and bottled waters now carry expiration dates. Store canned food and bottled water in a cool, dry place, out of direct sunlight. Heat can help the food and water to break down quicker or potentially allow bacteria to form.
Wilkins says cans that are dented, leaking or bulging need to be tossed.
Click here for recommendations from the Red Cross on what needs to be in your emergency supply kit.
The CDC recently posted on their Twitter account that commercially bottled water needs to be replaced once a year, and that got us also thinking also about the shelf life of all the canned goods so many of us store in our hurricane emergency kits.
The Red Cross recommends replacing commercially bottled water supplies annually, although if water is stored in a cool, dry place theoretically it's good for much longer. And if you bottle your own water from the tap, replace the supply every six months.
Kay Wilkins, CEO of the Southeast Louisiana Region of the Red Cross says canned goods should also be rotated out of your emergency kit, with many now carrying an expiration date of two years.
According to the Department of Agriculture highly acidic foods like tomatoes, fruit and fruit juice can be stored for up to 18 months, and lower acid foods like vegetables and meat can generally be stored for two to five years. And if PB and J sandwiches are in your emergency plans, the jelly is usually only good for one year.
Most canned goods and bottled waters now carry expiration dates. Store canned food and bottled water in a cool, dry place, out of direct sunlight. Heat can help the food and water to break down quicker or potentially allow bacteria to form.
Wilkins says cans that are dented, leaking or bulging need to be tossed.
