Emergency Food Supply: Long-Life Food Shopping List

Emergency food and medicine supplies: a practical guide

⏱ 3 min read

A shopping list of long-life products. A guide based on official advice. The same text is in the free SurvivalZone.app and works without internet.

Open in the app (works offline)

Water and drinks

At least 3 litres of water per person per day for at least 3 days. For 4 people that is 36 litres.
If you have room, keep enough for 10 days. Remember water for pets.

Food you can eat without cooking

Tinned meat and fish, pâté, ready meals in jars.
Tinned vegetables and fruit, beans, chickpeas, sweetcorn.
Crispbread, rusks, crackers, oats and muesli.
Peanut butter, nuts, dried fruit, energy bars, chocolate.
Long-life or powdered milk and juice in cartons.
With a camping stove: pasta, rice, grains and instant soups.

Medicines and first aid

At least two weeks of your regular medicines. Talk to your doctor about it.
Painkillers, fever reducers and remedies for diarrhoea and nausea.
Dressings, bandages, a tourniquet, gloves, disinfectant, thermometer, FFP3 masks and a foil blanket.

How to store it

Buy what you normally eat. Every few months use the oldest items and replace them.
Keep supplies somewhere dry, cool and dark. Note expiry dates on a list.
Don't forget a manual tin opener.

Watch out

Don't panic-buy at the last minute. A supply built calmly over time is enough.
Store prescription medicines as the leaflet says. Some, like insulin, need a fridge.

Frequently asked questions

How much water do I need for an emergency?

At least 3 litres per person per day for at least 3 days, according to the Polish government Safety Handbook. For a family of four that is 36 litres.

What food should I stock for an emergency?

Food you can eat without cooking: tinned food, tinned vegetables, crispbread, oats, nuts, dried fruit and long-life milk.

How long can I keep emergency supplies?

Check them every few months. Stock what you normally eat and keep rotating the oldest items.

Which long-life foods are best for an emergency?

Foods you can eat without cooking: tinned meat, fish, vegetables and beans, crispbread and crackers, oats, peanut butter, nuts, dried fruit, and long-life or powdered milk. With a camping stove, add pasta, rice, grains and instant soups.

How much water should I store?

At least 3 litres per person per day for at least 3 days. If you have room, keep enough for 10 days.

Keep it on your phone

SurvivalZone.app is a free app for every emergency, with no account and no app store. It works without internet and shows the nearest shelters and help points, local radio, a 72-hour plan and a mountain trip planner.

Open SurvivalZone.app

Thank you for reading. If this could help someone, send it to the people you care about. Getting ready takes a moment, and in a crisis every minute counts.

Coming soon: the app’s permanent address will be survivalzone.app.

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Sources

Scientific literature and guidelines

Official sources are checked automatically every day. Last check: 2026-11-08.

General guidance only; it does not replace the emergency services. If a life is in danger, call 112.