Featured Photo: Courtesy of Mountain House
We tested the best survival brands available today according to price, calories, nutrition, and shelf-life. Read on to see how they performed, which is best for you, and get some valuable buying advice.
Table of Contents
Best Survival Food
The best survival foods are:
- Best Overall Survival Food: MOUNTAIN HOUSE
- Best Budget Survival Food: QUAKE KARE
- Survival Food Kits With The Longest Shelf Life: 4PATRIOTS
- Most Versatile Survival Food: AUGASON FARMS
- Most Nutritious Survival Food: PEAK REFUEL
- Survival Food with the Cleanest Ingredients: MOTHER EARTH PRODUCTS
The product comparison table below is sortable. Click the arrow in the heading cell to sort the models by preferred spec.
BRAND | PRICE PER SERVING |
CALORIES PER SERVING |
MACROS PER SERVING |
SHELF LIFE |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. Mountain House | $5.61 | 200 | 200 | 30 years |
2. Quake Kare | $0.78 | 410 | 410 | 5 years |
3. Augason Farms | $1.26 | 56 | 56 | 25-30 years |
4. Peak Refuel | $7 | 430 | 430 | 5 years |
5. 4Patriots | $1.26 | 257 | 257 | 25 years |
6. Mother Earth Products | $1.76 | 92 | 92 | 2-5 years |
7. SOS Food Labs | $2.00 | 450 | 450 | 5 years |
8. Legacy Food Storage | $2.96 | 354.64 | 354.64 | 25 years |
9. ReadyWise | $2.02 | 144.91 | 144.91 | 25 years |
10. Datrex | $5.74 | 216.67 | 216.67 | 5 years |
11. Prepared Pantry | $0.33 | 130 | 130 | 6 months-2 years |
Best Overall Survival Food
Mountain House
Price per serving: $5.61
✅ Long shelf life
✅ Good taste
✅ Lots of macros per serving
❌ Expensive
KEY SPECS
- Calories per serving: 200
- Macros per serving: 200
- Shelf life: 30 years
- Minimally Processed?: Y
- Artificial Sweeteners?: N
- Preservatives?: Y
- Added Salt?: Y
- Protein per Serving: 19.83
- Fiber per Serving: 0.67
- Fat per Serving: 8.25
Mountain House, a backpacking staple, is known for its variety of freeze-dried, ready-to-eat meals. For survival food kits Mountain House comes in #10 cans. They have a mix of freeze-dried meats and freeze-dried meals. We found that ingredient-wise, Mountain House falls in the middle.
We like that it has a decent taste but packs a lot of salt. The calories are a little low per serving compared to other brands we tested, but it has an impressive amount of macros per serving: the second highest on our list.
A big plus for us is the 30-year shelf life, the longest on our list. The food does need to be eaten within a week of opening, which means a lack of variety for one person to get through the large can, but if you’re two or more, it’s not a huge issue.
A major bonus for us is that Mountain House has a wide distribution and can be found in retail stores like Walmart and REI. It‘s one of the more expensive brands we tested. However, the long shelf life, decent taste, and loads of macros make it our best overall survival food brand.
Our Favorites: Diced Chicken, Ground Beef, Beef Stroganoff, Diced Beef, Lasagna with Meat Sauce
Best Budget Survival Food
Quake Kare
Price per serving: $0.78
✅ Best budget option
✅ High in calories and macros
❌ Shorter shelf life
❌ Fewer quality ingredients
❌ Less variety in taste
KEY SPECS
- Calories per serving: 410
- Macros per serving: 410
- Shelf life: 5 years
- Minimally Processed?: N
- Artificial Sweeteners?: N
- Preservatives?: Y
- Added Salt?: Y
- Protein per Serving: 7
- Fiber per Serving: 2
- Fat per Serving: 18
Quake Kare is known for their 2,400- and 3,600-calorie food bars (dare we say, bricks), which contain 6 and 9 410-calorie rations, respectively. A 2,4000 packet would last you about 2 days while our favorite, 3,600 bar, will cover your nutritional needs for as long as 3.
A major benefit of these ER Bars is the price. They are the second most affordable on our list at just $0.78 per serving. The bars also taste pretty good—for a brick of energy, although there isn’t much variety.
We found the flavor is a little sweet, and the texture is extremely dense, although not too dry. The packaging is resealable, which is convenient, but keep in mind that the 5-year shelf-life won't apply anymore once you've opened the pouch. The packaging is also supposedly meant to protect the food in extreme temperatures (-22F to 149F), making it ok to keep those in your car without risk.
Our Favorites: 2400 Calorie Emergency Food Bar, 3600 Calorie Emergency Food Bar
Most Versatile Survival Food
Augason Farms
Price per serving: $1.26
✅ Inexpensive
✅ Long shelf life
✅ Great taste
✅ Clean ingredients
❌ Low calories and macros per serving
KEY SPECS
- Calories per serving: 56
- Macros per serving: 56
- Shelf life: 25-30 years
- Minimally Processed?: Y
- Artificial Sweeteners?: N
- Preservatives?: Y
- Added Salt?: Y
- Protein per Serving: 3.50
- Fiber per Serving: 2
- Fat per Serving: 0.25
Augason Farms is similar to Mother Earth Foods, providing you with lots of individual ingredients to build your meals. They do have a few pre-made meal options, like creamy chicken-flavored rice and a tasty vegetable stew. However, we like that they cost significantly less than Mother Earth Foods.
If you’re willing to put in the prep work yourself, we love Augason Farms' versatility. We found the range impressive. They have everything from freeze-dried veggies to fruits, dairy products, meats, and peanut butter. You could set up a full pantry of food if you plan to cook while you ride out the apocalypse. Since the products are sold as individual ingredients, they are lower in calories and macros.
We wouldn’t recommend these for those looking for a ‘bug out’ option. But if you’re going to be hunkering down, Augason Farms will allow you to come up with many culinary delights.
Our Favorites: Vegetable Stew Blend, Country Fresh 100% Real Instant Nonfat Dry Milk, Freeze-Dried Sliced Strawberries, Tomato Powder, Peanut Butter Powder
Most Nutritious Survival Food
Peak Refuel
Price per serving: $7
✅ High calories and macros
✅ Great taste
✅ Quality ingredients
❌ Expensive
❌ Shorter shelf life
KEY SPECS
- Calories per serving: 430
- Macros per serving: 430
- Shelf life: 5 years
- Minimally Processed?: Y
- Artificial Sweeteners?: N
- Preservatives?: Y
- Added Salt?: Y
- Protein per Serving: 22.83
- Fiber per Serving: 1.50
- Fat per Serving: 24.83
A backpacker favorite, we love that Peak Refuel uses only premium, non-GMO ingredients to make ready-to-eat meals. And we found their meals are packed full of protein, offering nearly double the amount of protein as other meals.
These are by far the most nutritious survival food meals we tested. Their wide range of meals crosses over into the gourmet realm, with meals like Bison-infused potatoes and elk ragu pasta.
However, you’re going to pay for all that quality and taste. These meals cost, on average, $7 per serving. The 5-year shelf life is good, but significantly less than other brands. However, if you want to survive the next pandemic with a high-class survival food kit, Peak Refuel is our top choice.
Our Favorites: Chicken Alfredo, Beef Stroganoff, Beef Pasta Marinara. Breakfast Skillet, Chicken Pesto Pasta
Survival Food Kits With The Longest Shelf Life
4Patriots
Price per serving: $1.26
✅ Inexpensive
✅ Long shelf life
✅ Best survival food kits
❌ Lower-quality ingredients
KEY SPECS
- Calories per serving: 257
- Macros per serving: 257
- Shelf life: 25 years
- Minimally Processed?: N
- Artificial Sweeteners?: N
- Preservatives?: Y
- Added Salt?: Y
- Protein per Serving: 5.50
- Fiber per Serving: 5
- Fat per Serving: 6
4Patriots is a solid emergency food supply that scores high in almost all of our categories. We like the 25-year shelf life and the price point, tied for the third cheapest on our list. Our favorite thing about 4Patriots is their kits. With 72-hour, 4-week, and 3-month options, it’s easy to stock up for the length you want.
They have a good variety of meals, although not as many as brands like Readywise. The kits are a bit light on calories, averaging about 1,250 per day. And we found the ingredient list less clean than we would have liked. But if you want to shore up your survival kit with just a few mouse clicks 4Patriots is our favorite brand for ready-made kits.
Our Favorites: 4-Week Survival Food Kit, 3-Month Survival Food Kit, Emergency Food Bars, 72-Hour Survival Food Kit
Survival Food with the Cleanest Ingredients
Mother Earth Products
Price per serving: $1.76
✅ Clean ingredients
✅ Great tasting
❌ Low calories per serving
❌ Short shelf life
KEY SPECS
- Calories per serving: 92
- Macros per serving: 92
- Shelf life: 2-5 years
- Minimally Processed?: Y
- Artificial Sweeteners?: N
- Preservatives?: N
- Added Salt?: N
- Protein per Serving: 3.83
- Fiber per Serving: 4
- Fat per Serving: 0
Mother Earth Products prides itself on its all-natural ingredients, which we love. The company uses Non-GMO and preservative-free ingredients to produce dehydrated and freeze-dried food. Unlike brands like ReadyWise and Mountain House, Mother Earth makes stand-alone ingredients like blueberries, carrots, onion, and garlic.
A few soup mixtures are in the company's lineup, but you mostly purchase Mother Earth to make custom meals. Because they are meant to be parts of other meals, they pack a lower caloric density than other meals on our list. You’ll need to provide some additional fats, carbs, and protein to make these a well-rounded meal.
The shelf life of 2-5 years is less than other brands we tested. If using Mother Earth Products, you’ll need to rotate your emergency food supply more often.
Our Favorites: Dried Vegetable Soup Mix, Dried Carrots, Freeze Dried Broccoli. Dried Celery, Dried Onions
The Other Noteworthy Models
SOS Food Labs
Price per serving: $2.00
✅ High in calories and macros
❌ Not tasty
❌ Lower quality ingredients
❌ Shorter shelf life
KEY SPECS
- Calories per serving: 450
- Macros per serving: 450
- Shelf life: 5 years
- Minimally Processed?: N
- Artificial Sweeteners?: N
- Preservatives?: Y
- Added Salt?: Y
- Protein per Serving: 6.33
- Fiber per Serving: 1.00
- Fat per Serving: 20.33
SOS Food Lab is all about providing no-fuss nutrition and calories in a survival situation. We like that these emergency food ration bars are packed with over 400 calories and are high in fats and protein too. We also like the simplicity, and the bars don’t require cooking, making them ideal for extreme emergencies.
However, they are not the tastiest bar we tested. There are a few “flavors,” but it is designed to be a brick of energy means not a lot of time was spent on taste. But you'll be happy to have them when you are hungry. The 5-year shelf life is shorter than many emergency food supply options, but it’s still long enough to make them a good option for your survival food kit.
Our Favorites: Emergency Food Rations, Cinnamon Emergency Food Rations
Legacy Food Storage
Price per serving: $2.96
✅ High calories
✅ Long shelf life
❌ Not tasty
❌ Less clean ingredient list
KEY SPECS
- Calories per serving: 354.64
- Macros per serving: 354.64
- Shelf life: 25 years
- Minimally Processed?: N
- Artificial Sweeteners?: N
- Preservatives?: Y
- Added Salt?: Y
- Protein per Serving: 14.83
- Fiber per Serving: 1.33
- Fat per Serving: 4.42
Legacy offers a wide variety of freeze-dried foods in different serving sizes. This is another brand that specializes in kits, and we especially like the 720 serving kit. That’s over 185 lbs of food! These meals will be familiar to most backpackers, and they come in just add water pouches similar to Mountain House.
They have a similar 25-year shelf life to other freeze-dried brands we tested. We found them to be less tasty than other freeze-dried food kit brands. And with the cost being more than brands like 4Patriots, we find it hard to recommend them over others.
Our Favorites: 16 Serving Family Entree Sample Pack, 183 Serving Mega Sample Pack, 120 Serving Entree Bucket, 120 Serving Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner Bucket, Premium 720 Servings Package
ReadyWise
Price per serving: $2.02
✅ Long shelf life
✅ Good variety
❌ Lower calories and macros per serving
KEY SPECS
- Calories per serving: 144.91
- Macros per serving: 144.91
- Shelf life: 25 years
- Minimally Processed?: N
- Artificial Sweeteners?: N
- Preservatives?: Y
- Added Salt?: Y
- Protein per Serving: 5.67
- Fiber per Serving: 2.33
- Fat per Serving: 3.75
ReadyWise balances affordable prices with quality food. More than just a bland MRE, we found ReadyWise meals tasty enough in an emergency situation. A big part of this is their variety. We love that the 60-serving bucket, yes, a literal bucket, has 13 different flavors.
The variety is nice, but the meals are all rather carb-heavy and pack fewer calories and macros per serving than the other brands we tested. We like how easy they are to prepare. Readywise works like a standard freeze-dried backpacking meal; just add hot water and eat. With a shelf life of 25 years, we think Readywise is a solid choice.
Our Favorites: 72 Hour Emergency Food and Drink Supply, 60 Serving Freeze Dried Meat Bucket + 20 Servings of Rice, 16 Serving Emergency Food Supply - Favorites Box, Emergency Freeze Dried Powdered Eggs - 144 Servings
Datrex
Price per serving: $5.74
✅ Clean ingredient list
❌ Expensive
❌ Shorter shelf life
KEY SPECS
- Calories per serving: 216.67
- Macros per serving: 216.67
- Shelf life: 5 years
- Minimally Processed?: Y
- Artificial Sweeteners?: N
- Preservatives?: N
- Added Salt?: N
- Protein per Serving: 3.10
- Fiber per Serving: 0.90
- Fat per Serving: 11
Datrex sells individually packed food bars for survival situations. These are your standard, no-cook energy bars, with one major exception. We love that they are made with natural ingredients and contain no preservatives. This does mean that the shelf life is only 5 years.
Similar to other bar brands, we actually find that to be impressive, given the lack of preservatives. Even though there is little variety, we found the bars to taste like a granola bar you'd buy for hiking. Each bar supplies 200 calories, which is lower than similar survival bars we tested. Instead of eating three bars a day, you'd need to eat at least six.
Our Favorites: Datrex Emergency Food Ration 3600 kcal, Datrex Emergency Food Ration 2400 kcal, Datrex Aviation Ration 1000 kcal
Prepared Pantry
Price per serving: $0.33
✅ Inexpensive
✅ Good ingredients
✅ Tasty
❌ Short shelf life
❌ Low calories and macros per serving
KEY SPECS
- Calories per serving: 130
- Macros per serving: 130
- Shelf life: 6 months-2 years
- Minimally Processed?: Y
- Artificial Sweeteners?: N
- Preservatives?: Y
- Added Salt?: Y
- Protein per Serving: 5
- Fiber per Serving: 1
- Fat per Serving: 0
Prepared Pantry focuses on bread and other baking mixes, like cookies and muffins, for emergency supply foods. We found their bread machine mixes outstanding. Just add water and let the machine do the work. Because of the yeast in the bread mixes, the shelf life is much shorter than other brands we tested. Sometimes only six months, which isn’t very long for survival foods.
They are very budget-friendly, though, largely because they focus on bread mixes instead of well-rounded meals. We wouldn’t recommend trying to survive on Prepared Pantry alone; they don’t pack many calories or macros (other than carbs).
Our Favorites: French Bread Mix, Buttermilk White Bread Mix, San Francisco Style Sourdough Bread Machine Mix
Key Factors To Consider When Choosing
Price Per Serving
Ingredients play a big part in the price. The more nutritious and clean the ingredients are, the higher the cost. Survival food companies that have more meal-based products are more expensive too. Survival food companies that sell separate single-ingredient packages or basic energy bars tend to be less expensive.
Survival food brands that provide the best value:
Most Affordable survival food brands:
Premium survival food brands (most expensive):
Calories Per Serving
To survive, you need calories. Survival food should have as many calories per serving as possible. Carb-heavy meals are less calorically dense than meals with a good balance of fats. Survival foods with the highest calories per serving are usually energy bars especially formulated to be a (literal) brick of calories.
The survival food brands with the most calories per serving:
Nutrition and Ingredients
Nutrition is highly variable depending on your survival situation. Are you eating only your survival food? Are you active or sedentary? Most people need 1,200 to 1,500 calories per day to stay alive, while 1,800 to 2,200 is a better target to remain active and alert. Ingredients are also important.
Most survival foods brands have plenty of starches and proteins but often are light on fats. Items that are naturally high in fat tend to spoil more quickly than their low-fat counterparts. Preservatives will increase shelf life but are less healthy for you long term.
The best survival food brands for minimally processed ingredients without added preservatives, sugars, or salt:
Shelf-life
Shelf life is incredibly important for survival foods. A survival stockpile is meant to last a long time and not be spoiled when you need it most. If you plan on rotating through your survival food fairly regularly, you can get away with a shorter shelf life. For peace of mind, we recommend getting one with at least a five-year, ideally 25-year, shelf life.
The survival food brands with the longest shelf life:
Other Things to Consider
Types of Survival Foods
Five basic types of survival foods are packaged for long-term storage. We describe each type and its advantages or disadvantages. Equipped with this knowledge, you can purchase the fare best suited to your needs.
DEHYDRATED FOOD: 15-20-YEAR SHELF LIFE, 15-20 MINUTES PREP TIME
Dehydrated foods are dried using heated air until 90 to 95% moisture is removed. It's an easy process that you can even do at home. During dehydration, the food shrinks and becomes withered and hard. Because not all of the water is removed, dehydrated food tends to retain some of its weight. It also lowers its shelf life to about 15 to 20 years.
Dehydration does tend to remove some of the essential nutrients in food, including Vitamins A and C, thiamine, riboflavin, and niacin. You can eat dehydrated foods like banana chips without adding water, but most dehydrated food needs hot water and time (15-20 mins) to regain some of its original texture.
FREEZE-DRIED FOOD: LIGHTWEIGHT, KEEPS NUTRITION, UP TO 30-YEAR SHELF LIFE
Freeze-dried food is placed inside a vacuum chamber that lowers the temperature below freezing and then slowly raises it. During the freeze-drying process, nearly 99% of the water is removed from the food. It's an expensive process that requires specialized equipment and typically cannot be done at home affordably.
Because almost all of the water is removed, freeze-dried food is lightweight and soft. It's practically powdery when you bite into it.
Freeze-dried food has a long shelf life of 25 to 30 years and retains the most nutritional value. Freeze-dried food rehydrates quickly with either hot or cold water and is ready to eat in 5 to 10 mins.
Dried carrots by Mother Earth Products.
CANNED FOOD: STORES WELL, SHELF LIFE VARIES, BULKY AND HEAVY
Canned food is typically cooked and then added to sterilized cans that are sealed under heat and pressure. This process sterilizes the food. It also drives the oxygen out of the can before sealing, preventing mold and bacterial contamination.
Canning can be done in batches and is relatively easy to do at home. Because of the heat used in canning, many canned foods lose some nutritional value and experience texture changes.
Canning also does not lower the weight of the food. On the contrary, the cans used to store the food add significant weight. Even though they are bulky, canned foods can preserve food almost indefinitely. The cans need to be in good shape and stored in cool, dry conditions. Cans also protect food from insects and rodents.
As a bonus, eating canned food is easy. Just open the can, heat the contents if necessary, and consume. If you don't have a cooking vessel, you can even heat up food inside an open can over the fire.
TABLETS: LIGHTWEIGHT AND ZERO PREP, TASTELESS
Instead of worrying about eating balanced meals, some preppers choose to stock up on food tablets. Each tablet contains 200 calories and your recommended daily dose of essential vitamin and mineral supplements. They are convenient and a cinch to store, but you lose out on that feel-good experience of eating a real meal.
FOOD BARS: READY-TO-EAT, NOT AS EXCITING AS A WARM MEAL
Instead of canning or drying foods, some people prefer to store bar-style foods. These foods are designed to be meal replacements. They typically pack a ton of calories and nutrients into a small bar that you eat in place of a meal.
Food bars by SOS Food Lab.
Macros
Macronutrients are carbohydrates, fats, and protein, which are the nutrients you use in the largest amounts. In general, carbohydrates provide instant energy, fats provide long-term energy, and proteins build muscle framework and structure.
We recommend choosing a survival food brand that has as many macros as possible. As a bonus, try to get a good macro balance too. The USDA recommends the total calories of a meal to be 45-65% carbs, 20-35% fats, and 10-35% protein.
Survival food with the most macros per serving:
Certifications
There is no universal certification for survival food. The closest we have is the Quality Survival Standards or QSS. The Quality Survival Standards were introduced to ensure survival food meets the minimal requirement to maintain health in a survival situation.
All QSS-certified foods have to supply at least 1,800 quality calories per day. Empty Calories from sugary drinks and similar are not included in this tally. The QSS standard also requires that a certified food provide a minimum of 40g of protein per day.
QSS is the most common certification, but it is not the only standard being used. Some foods also claim to be "Coast Guard" certified food, which means they can stay fresh for up to five years.
Pay attention to nutrient labeling and look for these certifications. You don't want to waste money and put your health at risk by purchasing foods that won't supply your body with the nutrients it needs.
Ingredients and nutrition for the SOS Food Labs survival bars.
Taste
You don’t need taste to survive, but it does keep you looking forward to mealtime. In general, we find pre-packaged meals to taste better overall than bars designed to get nutrition into your body. Taste is highly subjective. However, we highly recommend trying meals from different survival food companies before buying bulk to avoid buying food you won’t eat.
Packaging
Many people package their survival food in food-safe plastic storage bins that protect their food from rodents, moisture, and sunlight, which break down the nutrients in food. Save some cash by looking for products that already come packaged in these plastic containers.
Some dried goods are stored in vacuum-sealed mylar bags that also protect the food from sunlight and moisture. They also typically contain an oxygen absorber to prevent molding and bacterial contamination of the food. Vacuum-sealed products may cost a bit more, but this packaging method can extend shelf-life significantly.
Freeze-Dried mangoes by Mother Earth Products.
Prep
You can go in two primary directions with survival food. You can choose everyday food, like rice and beans, that require hot water and sometimes even cooking for up to 10 minutes or more. You'll need a reliable, long-term fuel source like wood or propane. These foods that require cooking will be easier to find and cheaper to purchase overall.
There also are ready-to-eat options, but these tend to be more expensive. They also may not taste as good as store-bought food. Eating "normal" food during these abnormal circumstances can provide a necessary lift and make a difficult occasion much more bearable.
Variety
While not necessarily a need, variety is important when you’re planning how long you want your emergency food supply to last. If it’s a short time, under a week or so, you can probably get away with eating the same flavor meal. If it’s meant to last long-term, months, or even years, make sure you have some variety to keep your taste buds entertained.
Dehydrated food and freeze-dried meals are ready in about 10-15 minutes.
Natural Survival Food Ideas
SHELF LIFE | CALORIES PER 100G | |
---|---|---|
All Purpose Flour | 1-2 years | 400 calories |
Canned Meats | 2-5 years | 143 calories |
Canned vegetables | 2-5 years | 65 calories |
Coconut Oil | 2-5 years | 900 calories |
Dehydrated fruit | 1 year | 400 calories |
Dried Lentils | 2-3 years | 116 calories |
Oats | 2 years | 389 calories |
Otas (vacuum-sealed) | 30 years | 389 calories |
Pasta | 2-3 years | 100 calories |
Peanut Butter | 6-9 months | 600 calories |
Potato Flakes | 10-15 years | 354 calories |
Powdered Bouillon | 2 years | 267 calories |
Powdered eggs | 5-10 years | 155 calories |
Powdered Milk | 25 years | 500 calories |
Raw Honey | 2 years | 304 calories |
White Rice | 20 years | 100 calories |
Survival Food Planning
OPTION 1: PURCHASE A SURVIVAL FOOD KIT
The easiest way to build an emergency food supply is to purchase an all-in-one kit. These kits provide enough food for a single person to last a specific number of days. You could buy a 7-day emergency food kit, and be confident you could last a week on this supply. These kits are convenient but tend to be very expensive, especially if you feed a family.
OPTION 2: BUILD YOUR OWN STASH OVER TIME
To build an emergency food stash, you need to slowly purchase extra food every time you go shopping. Instead of buying two cans of soup, buy four cans and put the additional two aside. Within a few months, you'll have a significant food store. You should purchase food that you typically eat and try to buy a wide variety so you have the major food groups covered.
PRO TIPS:
- Evaluate Your Food Requirements First: First, you need to decide how much food you want to stockpile. Do you want enough food to last a few days after a storm knocks out power, or do you want enough to make it through the winter? You also need to think about how many people you will feed. It's much easier to plan for a single person than for a family.
- Keep Your Stash Safe: Sunlight, moisture, and pests are the three biggies to avoid. If possible, store your food in a cool, dry, and dark location, free from rodents, insects, and other pests. Be sure to rotate your stock by eating the older items and putting the newly bought products in the back.