Customer Reviews

3600 Calorie ER Bar - Emergency Food Ration

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Well, it's a brick of food. The taste isn't unpleasant, cake like in flavor. Texture reminds me of a really really dry dense piece of cornbread.For what it is, it is good for an emergency kit, but I wouldn't want to carry too many while hiking. I would definitely like to have a few handy though when it comes down to it. It also doubles as a blunt weapon.

While I did not give the ER Bar the original 3 day simulated emergency test I had intended (consuming nothing but the three daily portions @ day with water and no other calories for three days total), I did manage to grind through the majority of a 9 square brick over three days.

As per description, each brick has indentations for dividing it into 9 portions. Due to the dense and dry nature of the food (essentially enriched flour, sugar and fat, no leavening), it has a tendency to crumble and did not break into even pieces, but as the indentations are merely portion guides, this is hardly an issue. Each mylar/foil package is zip lock resealable, which is a convenience not found in other emergency bar packages.

Taste is a mild lemon/vanilla flavor, not overpowering yet not flour and sugar bland either. It tastes a bit like a shortbread cookie with a much denser texture. Texture is somewhat crumbly, even powder-like when bitten or ground off a block/serving.

Like most foods, eating nothing but ER Bars for even three days would be taxing, but in a true emergency situation, you are eating to replace and replenish the basic substances your body needs to continue to function properly. On the other hand, I did not personally find anything wrong with the taste of the rations and while I wouldn't necessarily be eagerly looking forward to eating these three times a day, they are still palatable. And while some may argue differently, I generally agree with the manufacturer's claim that they are for the most part non-thirst provoking. No dry mouth.

As an Army veteran who has happily lived off of MREs in the field for weeks at a time, it should be clarified that emergency food rations are not substitutes for these in any way shape or form so much as emergency rations to be cached in the event of a true emergency or added to emergency car kits, marine kits, go-bags, etc. for emergency use only. The extremely dense and compact (and durable) nature of the packages make them ideal for these applications.

At 27 oz (little more than 1.5 lbs) for 3 days worth of calories, it would be tough to find a more efficient shelf stable food source that contained the same nutritional balance. By comparison, a single 1200 cal MRE weighs about the same with about 2-3 times the bulk unless pre-field stripped (which reduces MRE storage/shelf life). Given the choice between a single MRE or three squares of ER Bars for a reduced 1200 cal/day emergency ration, the MRE would win; no comparison. But when it comes to caching, a case of 20 ER Bars (2 month supply) occupies less storage space than a box of 12 MREs (12 meals total). If space is a consideration, 5 boxes of MREs would be the caloric/nutritional equivalent of a single 20 package box of ER Bars. ER Bars are extremely easy to store/cache and transport.

Health concerns could include the high saturated fat content (used to bind the flour/sugar mixture into bricks as well as provide slower burn energy) at 9g per serving (45% USRDA) as well as the 50% USRDA niacin for those who are niacin sensitive. Low fiber along with the high fat content will likely slow gut motility in the average healthy individual (fewer bowel movements) which is generally beneficial in an emergency survival situation. Lastly, the sodium and potassium content (no added salt/extremely low sodium content) is almost non-existent, making electrolyte replacement a potential issue in high heat environments. The bars do contain potassium iodide.

Are these health concerns really an issue if no other food sources are available? Barring individual with special health needs, probably not.

ER Bars are priced lower than Datrex and Mainstay with slightly larger portions (3600 calorie brick is actually 9*410 kcal bars at 3 oz. @).

I ordered a case direct from QuakeKare and the lot received were manufactured this month (Jun 2011) so old stock should not be an issue.

This is generally not a product to be cycled on a regular basis so much as emergency supplies that are better to have and not need than need and not have (and preferably never need). I have no intention of eating another package myself unless I decide to do a 3 day emergency simulation eating nothing but the recommended 3 square allotment per day.

The 3600 Calorie ER Bar (Emergency Food Ration) isn't gourmet food but it actually doesn't taste bad at all. I tried one of these out before purchasing a supply of them. It didn't make you thirsty and had a lemon/vanilla flavor which, if not exciting, was still pretty good. There are others on the market that are also quite good but this one had the best flavor while containing all the necessary nutrition. It is perfect for homes, boats, tornado and other emergency shelters, etc. But it is not lightweight. Its actually pretty heavy, so if you plan on putting one or two of these in a backpack and weight is a consideration you might prefer food tablets. I was however very happy not only with the product itself but also with the speed with which it was delivered.

I had purchased an 3600 Cal ER Bar before my kids were even born and had it in my car for "emergencies". 6+ years later, I was inventorying my car emergency kit and decided that I should taste test them to see how well they really hold up. Like other reviewers said, they're not super delicious, but they are sustainable and would definitely work for a true emergency during the first 3-5 days. I would definitely recommend these or other emergency rations that you can buy and forget. Just throw them in your emergency kit and you'll have something that is definitely not delicious, but will definitely work as emergency rations if it comes to that.

I was very impressed that they lasted 6+ years and tasted OK.

This is like life insurence,you hope to never need it. But when you do ,it is great to have . The 3600 calorie ER Bar will keep you alive when there is no other food on hand.It has a good flavor and will certainly keep your stomach from "growling" at you.To me,it tastes better than year old wedding cake, what a mistake that was. It stores well ,under the worst conditions.Put a few in your pack ,or vehicle and forget they are there....When needed,you will be glad you did.

I haven't eaten any of these because I put them in my emergency survival kit. I bought a bunch myself - not realizing my mom had already bought me some! I looked at many different types of emergency ration bars, and these definitely looked the best. They definitely have the best price for the quality. They came in VERY good packaging. I highly recommend them!

The package I received came in a resealable pouch. It is one large brick with indentation lines dividing it into 9 squares. I cut it with a sharp knife but it still crumbled. It is like a very dry, crumbly shortbread with a hint of lemon flavor. Rather bland but not unpleasant.

I find the crumbly texture and having to divide it into portions an inconvenience but it is the least expensive such product I have found and, for the money, it will keep you from starving for a while. Another reviewer warned about the concentration of niacin and most of the nutrients are at 40% of Daily Value per 410 calorie portion. 19 grams Fat, 52 grams Carb, 7grams protein. Long term this would have negative effects on your health. Short term it would keep you alive.

As long as it is for emergencies it is an acceptable product for the price.

This emergency food is not to be mistaken for secondary casual use in snacking nor for usual dining pleasure.

The point of a flavoring is to provide initial morale and pleasure; however should this food be the sole source of nutrition, flavoring should not be a deterrent due to annoying qualities. They should have chosen a duller flavor rather than the cloying and over-sweetened bricks here.

However, this food's taste and odor does serve the purpose of distinguishing this food from blocks of dehydrated bleach solids. Dehydrated bleach and other soaps can be mistook especially because many consumer bleach and soaps are perfumed. So it is good that this food pronounces its identity, something useful in long term survival situations where many people are trying to survive.

Also, several days of this food can cause dizziness from niacin toxicity unless food intake is carefully kept to recommended intake. The niacin level in these bars also can cause mild issues in tandem with diabetes.

Those suffering diabetes exercise caution please!

These ER bars are not bearable as snack food for long. As supplements, the taste also grows annoying. So remember that this food is best used for brief periods of a month at most of economic shortfall or power outage. If the refrigerator breaks, these bars can be used to provide for temporary food needs (again, I suggest not going past a month with this emergency food).

In retrospect, I see these as vastly superior to Daytrex. Avoid Daytrex and if you need to survive, take these in their stead. If I find something better, I'll keep this review as is. If all the other lightweight and dry survival rations are inferior, I'll re-review it and give it another star.

That price seems very high. Instead, buy here: quakekare[dot]com

Same ERbar 3600 calorie Emergency Food Bar but for $3.95

It would be fine if you were starving and in an emergency, but I would recommend spending more and getting MRE'S