Costco Wholesale, one of the biggest suppliers of long-term storable food in the U.S., has sold out of “emergency food kits” on its website after the CDC cautioned Americans to prepare before the coronavirus turned into a devastating pandemic.
Shoppers who click on the “Emergency [Food] Kits & Supplies” section of the Costco website were greeted with this note: “We’re sorry, no products were found.”
Those who browsed the online store on February 25 only saw two available products, which included a large bin of macaroni and cheese. Shoppers received an error if they tried to view the page, which said that the products were already out of stock. By Wednesday, the online store's page was unavailable. (Related: Online retail giant Amazon removes any product mentioning “CORONAVIRUS” – including sanitizing products that actually kill coronavirus on surfaces.)
People even turned to social media to deliver the disappointing news.
Chris Menahan of InfoWars reported than when he visited a local Costco warehouse to purchase supplies, the only products available were 12- to 25-pound bags of rice. One rice variety was low on stock, but the rest of the shelves were mostly full.
The emergency food kits were also out of stock at the warehouse.
What to buy for your survival stockpile
For seasoned preppers who have been slowly but steadily building up their survival cache over months and even years, a disease outbreak like the coronavirus is just one of the scenarios that their lifestyle has been preparing them for.
That said, those who have neglected to set up emergency preparations for these kinds of situations should not let panic get the better of them. Remain calm and start making the necessary steps for getting the supplies you will need before SHTF.
Before you head for the nearest store, make a list of food items with a long shelf life, as well as foods that are part of a balanced diet, like superfoods that contain carbs, healthy fats, fiber, protein and essential vitamins and minerals. An important way to prevent COVID-19 infections is to strengthen your immune system.
Buy organic items whenever you can, and store your supplies in a cool, dry place.
Here's a list of foods with a six-month shelf life to add to your stockpile:
- Dried fruits for fiber, vitamins
- Nuts for healthy fats, fiber, protein
- Peanut butter for healthy fats, vegan protein (high-quality peanut butter with oil on top will last longer)
- Potatoes for fiber, carbs
- Smoked salmon for healthy fats, protein (freeze smoked salmon to extend its shelf life)
The following items can last up to one year in your stockpile:
- Canned meat (chicken, sardines, stewed pork, tuna) for proteins
- Canned fruits (peaches, pears, pineapple) for fiber, vitamins
- Canned soups (chicken soup, mushroom soup, tomato soup, vegetable soup)
- Canned vegetables (baked beans, beetroot, kidney beans, tomatoes) for protein, vitamins
- Frozen fruits
- Frozen vegetables (Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, chopped spinach, peas) – your supply can last for about eight to 10 months
- Vitamins and supplements
It's important to stock up now while you can still purchase supplies from stores in your area. As COVID-19 continues to spread, it's anybody's guess how long stores can offer their products to desperate shoppers.
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