Datrex Emergency Food Rations and Drinking Water have a 5 year shelf life and are approved globally for use in liferafts, lifeboats and in any other emergency situations such as earthquakes, fl ooding and hurricanes where food and water supply can be at stake. The high energy ration is tabletized /subpackaged and ready to eat. It is compact and not thirst provoking. Only natural ingredients are used, (no preservatives or nuts), Wheat fl our, Vegetable shortening (soybean oil), Granulated sugar (cane sugar), salt, water and coconut flavoring