LoudmouthMormon
08-14-2008, 08:36 AM
I'm not sure how new this information is, but it might be of interest to some.
It's from the Church's Provident Living Food Storage FAQ (http://www.providentliving.org/content/display/0,11666,7636-1-4104-1,00.html#question_5):
The Web site and the family home storage pamphlet state that longer-term storage items can last 30 years or longer. Isn?t that a much longer period of time than previously thought?
Yes. Properly packaged, low-moisture foods stored at room temperature or cooler (75?F/24?C or lower) remain nutritious and edible much longer than previously thought according to recent scientific studies. The studies, which are the first of their kind, increase the estimated shelf life for many products to 30 years or more (see chart for new estimates of shelf life). Previous estimates of longevity were based on ?best-if-used-by? recommendations and experience. Though not studied, sugar, salt, baking soda (essential for soaking beans) and Vitamin C in tablet form also store well long-term. Some basic foods do need more frequent rotation, such as vegetable oil every 1 to 2 years.
While there is a decline in nutritional quality and taste over time, depending on the original quality of food and how it was processed, packaged and stored, the studies show that even after being stored long-term, the food will help sustain life in an emergency.
<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 align=center bgColor=#ffffff border=2><TBODY><TR vAlign=top align=middle bgColor=#d6c7b5></TR><TR vAlign=top align=middle bgColor=#d6c7b5><TD>Food</TD><TD>New "Life Sustaining" Shelf-Life
Estimates (In Years)</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=middle><TD>Wheat</TD><TD>30+</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=middle><TD>White rice</TD><TD>30+</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=middle><TD>Corn</TD><TD>30+</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=middle><TD>Sugar</TD><TD>30+</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=middle><TD>Pinto beans</TD><TD>30 </< td> </TD><TR vAlign=top align=middle><TD>Apple slices</TD><TD>30 </< td> </TD><TR vAlign=top align=middle><TD>Macaroni</TD><TD>30 </< td> </TD><TR vAlign=top align=middle><TD>Rolled oats</TD><TD>30 </< td> </TD><TR vAlign=top align=middle><TD>Potato flakes</TD><TD>30 </< td> </TD><TR vAlign=top align=middle><TD>Powdered milk</TD><TD>20 </< td> </TD><TR vAlign=top align=middle><TD>Carrots</TD><TD>20 </< td> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
It's from the Church's Provident Living Food Storage FAQ (http://www.providentliving.org/content/display/0,11666,7636-1-4104-1,00.html#question_5):
The Web site and the family home storage pamphlet state that longer-term storage items can last 30 years or longer. Isn?t that a much longer period of time than previously thought?
Yes. Properly packaged, low-moisture foods stored at room temperature or cooler (75?F/24?C or lower) remain nutritious and edible much longer than previously thought according to recent scientific studies. The studies, which are the first of their kind, increase the estimated shelf life for many products to 30 years or more (see chart for new estimates of shelf life). Previous estimates of longevity were based on ?best-if-used-by? recommendations and experience. Though not studied, sugar, salt, baking soda (essential for soaking beans) and Vitamin C in tablet form also store well long-term. Some basic foods do need more frequent rotation, such as vegetable oil every 1 to 2 years.
While there is a decline in nutritional quality and taste over time, depending on the original quality of food and how it was processed, packaged and stored, the studies show that even after being stored long-term, the food will help sustain life in an emergency.
<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 align=center bgColor=#ffffff border=2><TBODY><TR vAlign=top align=middle bgColor=#d6c7b5></TR><TR vAlign=top align=middle bgColor=#d6c7b5><TD>Food</TD><TD>New "Life Sustaining" Shelf-Life
Estimates (In Years)</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=middle><TD>Wheat</TD><TD>30+</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=middle><TD>White rice</TD><TD>30+</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=middle><TD>Corn</TD><TD>30+</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=middle><TD>Sugar</TD><TD>30+</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=middle><TD>Pinto beans</TD><TD>30 </< td> </TD><TR vAlign=top align=middle><TD>Apple slices</TD><TD>30 </< td> </TD><TR vAlign=top align=middle><TD>Macaroni</TD><TD>30 </< td> </TD><TR vAlign=top align=middle><TD>Rolled oats</TD><TD>30 </< td> </TD><TR vAlign=top align=middle><TD>Potato flakes</TD><TD>30 </< td> </TD><TR vAlign=top align=middle><TD>Powdered milk</TD><TD>20 </< td> </TD><TR vAlign=top align=middle><TD>Carrots</TD><TD>20 </< td> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>