UK households are being urged to prepare for worst-case scenarios and national emergencies, including major and long-term power cuts and loss of internet or phone signal. Government 'Black Sky event' planning has come to light, detailing an emergency broadcast FM radio station that could be set up by the BBC, running on emergency food and fuel supplies if the internet and communications went dark due to a national power cut for three days or more.
The Department of Health and Social Care has pre-written scripts for hosts of the national emergency radio station, setting out what households should do in the extreme event of having no power or water.
Nine Key Foods for Stockpiling
According to sources including Business Insider and PBS Food, there are nine key foods and food types households should focus on for stockpiling. These include honey, which is high in calories and never goes off; uncooked white rice, which lasts up to five years, or 30 years if vacuum packed; and peanut butter, which keeps for three to five years and is high in fat, calories, and Vitamin E.
Energy bars, made of oats, raisins, seeds, and dried goods, effectively last forever and are high in nutrition. Dehydrated meat, known as jerky in the US, lasts up to two months, but vacuum sealing and freezing can extend this to a year. OXO cubes, also known as bouillon cubes, last a long time if packaging is intact.
Tinned Foods and Other Long-Lasting Options
Tinned foods are a clear winner, lasting for years without issue. In 2006, it was reported that a man ate a tin of chicken from 1956 without issue. Les and Beryl Lailey, of Denton, Greater Manchester, were given the chicken in a hamper on their wedding day in 1956. Former soldier Mr Lailey, 73, told the BBC: "We kept it safe, and I always said 'on my 50th wedding anniversary I'm going to eat that chicken' - so I did." He said he had no ill effects after eating it.
Powdered milk is another good option, as it is shelf-stable and likely to last indefinitely, with reports of non-fat powdered milk lasting more than 25 years. Finally, vanilla extract lasts forever and can add flavour to bland supplies.
Government Advice for Households
The scripts prepared by the Department of Health and Social Care for the 'Black Sky' broadcast advise: "So, to summarise, eat chilled and frozen food that is likely to go off quickly first, followed by food which you normally don’t keep in the fridge, but which has a short shelf life. Keep food which you normally keep in the cupboard and that has a longer shelf life until last. And take particular care to ensure the food you are giving to more at risk groups is safe."
