Emergency Food Supplies: What to Stock Up On and What to Avoid

September 22, 2026 | 08:12 am

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Extreme weather and other disruptions could change the way people shop for food, making it useful to keep a supply of long-life products at home.

Earlier this month, the UK government urged people to add more long-life products to their food baskets in case the food supply chain is disrupted.

Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle told The Guardian as cited by BBC that the powerful natural phenomenon El Nino could lead to “more extreme storms in this country.”

Climate change, along with cyberattacks, disease outbreaks and conflicts, can all put additional pressure on the systems that eventually bring food to supermarkets and homes.

Prof. Richard Wilding, an expert in supply chain strategy, said people should not be “overly worried,” noting that global shipping professionals are constantly adapting. However, he advised consumers to be prepared to buy different products if supplies of certain foods become limited.

“Things that were in supermarkets and seen as relatively abundant may all of a sudden be in shortage,” he said.

So, what foods should you keep at home in case of an emergency, and which products should you avoid?

What Food Should You Keep in Your Cupboard?

Senior nutrition scientist Dr. Sammie Gill of the British Nutrition Foundation recommends prioritizing certain food groups when building an emergency food supply.

Complex Carbohydrates

Gill recommends stocking up on complex carbohydrates, including:

• Wheat biscuits
• Wholegrain cereals
• Crackers and breads
• Oats
• Rice
• Pasta

Protein-Rich Foods

For protein, Gill recommends:

• Canned chickpeas
• Lentils
• Kidney beans
• Unsalted nuts
• Peanut butter
• Canned oily fish such as tuna, mackerel and sardines

Tinned Fruit

Consultant dietitian Rebecca McManamon recommends keeping tinned fruit because its juice can provide additional fluids, while the fruit supplies vitamins and fibre.

Pickled Foods

Pickled foods, including vegetables and eggs, are also among the essentials recommended by McManamon.

Long-Life Milk

Both experts recommend keeping long-life milk from the non-refrigerated aisle. It provides protein and calcium and can also serve as a source of fluid.

What Food Should You Avoid Purchasing?

Gill recommends paying attention to salt and sugar content when buying tinned and other long-life products.

• Avoid items tinned in brine or syrups, as water is the healthiest option.
• Avoid instant noodles and tinned soup because of their high salt content.
• Avoid breakfast cereals and snack bars with added sugars and limited nutrients.
• Choose tinned fish over tinned meats such as sausages, hot dogs or corned beef, as they are often processed and high in salt and saturated fat.
• Limit sweet treats such as biscuits and chocolates because of their high sugar content.

How Can You Make Emergency Food Taste Better?

Stocking up on long-life food does not mean meals have to be bland.

McManamon recommends keeping nuts as a sweet alternative, although she notes that they may have a shorter shelf life.

She also recommends keeping dried herbs, spices and salt available because tinned food can sometimes be slightly bland.

How Much Water Do You Need?

Staying hydrated is another important consideration when preparing for a potential disruption to food supplies.

McManamon recommends consuming about 1,500 to 2,500 milliliters of fluid a day, regardless of the weather.

This can come from bottled water, but also from what she describes as fluid-rich tinned foods if supplies are short.

Is Tinned Food as Nutritious as Fresh Food?

For people concerned about whether tinned food is as nutritious as fresh food, Gill says it can absolutely be part of a healthy diet.

“There is little difference nutritionally between canned and fresh food in terms of macronutrients, like carbohydrates, protein, fats, and fibre, as well as fat-soluble vitamins, like vitamin A and E, and minerals,” she said.

However, tinned food may contain lower levels of some other vitamins, including B and C vitamins, because the canning process can reduce vitamin levels.

Gill nevertheless said these foods can still be a “useful source” of vitamins.

Read: Indonesia Confident Food Supply Remains Strong Amid Extreme El Nino

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