ER Emergency Ration 3600+ Calorie, 5-Year Emergency Food Bar for Survival Kits and Disaster Preparedness

by ER Emergency Ration

• Guaranteed 5-year shelf life
• Approved and certified as a 3-day survival supply by USCG and US Department of Homeland Security
• Each packet contains nine individual, ready-to-eat 410 calorie rations; requires no preparation
• Durable, zip-close re-sealable packaging; withstands extreme conditions and temperatures (-22F to 149F)
• No trans fats, cholesterol, coconut, tropical oils or nuts

Product Description

The 27 ounce, 3,600+ calorie ER Bar is formulated specifically in accordance with the stringent requirements of the US Department of Homeland Security and the US Coast Guard for emergency victims. Ideal for emergency situations, each packet contains nine individual 410 calorie rations that are ready-to-eat with no preparation. With a non-thirst provoking formula and a perfect balance of quality ingredients, it provides nutrition specifically formulated for disaster victims, including an optimum balance of salt, carbohydrates, protein, fat and enriched with the recommended daily allowance of vitamins and minerals. Food requirements will vary from person to person and may also vary depending upon environmental circumstances (cold weather requires more energy to stay warm, for example). Just one 3,600+ calorie ER Bar can minimally sustain an average person up to four days if necessary, but it’s advisable to evaluate the needs of your family and prepare accordingly. Following a disaster, food supplies may become disrupted, stores closed and power outages could last for days. The US Department of Homeland Security and FEMA recommend stocking a three-day supply of non-perishable food per person to prepare for emergencies. Even canned foods can spoil within 6 months. Get quality food rations that you can count on and store ER Bars in multiple locations for easy access to essential nutrition in an emergency. The special re-sealable package is vacuum sealed and certified by the USCG to maintain a 5-year shelf life. ER bars contain no tropical oils, coconut or nuts which may cause dangerous allergic reactions when no medical aid is available.

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 6 x 5 x 1.4 inches ; 0.2 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• Origin: USA
• ASIN: B008DEYC86
• Item model number: 1B
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,295 in Sports & Outdoors (See Top 100 in Sports & Outdoors)
  • #14 in Sports & Outdoors > Outdoor Recreation > Camping & Hiking > Camp Kitchen > Freeze-Dried Food

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

101 of 101 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Emergency supplies for emergencies only June 23, 2011

By Daniel H. Okada

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.

68 of 71 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars ER 3600 bar November 27, 2008

By Joe

Amazon Verified Purchase

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.

40 of 41 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Product March 28, 2008

By Galahad 27

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.