Foods You Should Stock Up on In Case of Emergency

With the coronavirus making headlines every day and more and more people staying home, many are stocking up on food in case of emergency. That makes it even more important to know what should you be piling into your shopping cart?

It is a good idea to stock up on non-perishables like canned foods, dry mixes and other essentials, according to Ready.gov. Look out for foods that do not require refrigeration, water, cooking or special preparation, as these methods may not be readily available to you.

The website recommends including fruit bars, dry cereal, peanut butter, dried fruit, canned juices and non-perishable pasteurized milk to your shopping list.

Dry ice is another item that could be beneficial as it can be used to keep food cold, which is essential as bacteria can grow rapidly in foods that are stored at temperatures between 40 and 140 °F.

Storing food in covered containers and avoiding food that "looks or smells abnormal" are other safety measures suggested by the website.

Another tip worth keeping in mind is to steer clear of cans that are swollen, dented or corroded, as they could cause serious illness.

Dr. Carl Batt, a professor of Food Science at Cornell University's Department, explained to Fox News that canned food may last a long time but once the "can is compromised," the food is no longer safe to eat.

"Sometimes they rust from the outside in because of moisture; other times the acids in the food cause the can to corrode," he said, adding that "once [any] can is open, all bets are off."

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