A "30-day" label tells you how long the brand thinks the food lasts one person. It doesn't tell you how many calories that person gets each day. Here's the math for every kit we track that puts a day count in its name, using the brand's own calorie numbers.
| Kit | Days on label | kcal per day | Real 2,000-kcal days | $ per 2,000-kcal day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Just in Case...® 3 Day Emergency Food Supply Mountain House | 3 | 1,706 | 2.6 | $39.07 |
| 14 Day Emergency Food Supply Mountain House | 14 | 1,719 | 12.0 | $38.06 |
| 2-Day Backcountry Protein Box Mountain House | 2 | 1,720 | 1.7 | $40.69 |
| 15-Day Emergency Food Supply Kit Mountain House | 15 | 1,732 | 13.0 | $37.34 |
| 30-Day Emergency Food Supply Kit Mountain House | 30 | 1,732 | 26.0 | $36.18 |
| 2 Week Emergency Food Supply ReadyWise | 14 | 1,827 | 12.8 | $11.73 |
| WFS 4-Week Patriot Emergency Food Supply | Over 2,200 Calories/Day ReadyWise | 28 | 2,212 | 31.0 | $7.75 |
| 72 Hour Emergency Food Kit ReadyWise | 3 | 2,260 | 3.4 | $14.75 |
| 32 Serving Family 72 Hour Emergency Food Kit Legacy Food Storage | 3 | 4,080 | 6.1 | $18.79 |
kcal per day = the brand's stated calories per day where given, otherwise the brand's total calories ÷ the days in the product name. Kits under 1,800 kcal a day are in red. Bundles that add extra items are left out.
So what?
A kit with fewer calories per day isn't bad. It may be meant to stretch your pantry. But if you're comparing prices, compare per 2,000-calorie day. That's what the Bunker Index does for 153 foods.