Y2K Food Supplier Study Reveals Surprises: Rogue Suppliers May Leave Customers Starving

CODY, Wyo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 22, 1999-- Y2KNEWSWIRE.COM, an Internet Y2K news and analysis site, issued it's fifth public safety alert today after analyzing Y2K food packages from over a hundred manufacturers and distributors. While the majority of food suppliers are providing a badly-needed service to a demanding customer base, a few rogue suppliers are dangerously misleading customers with vague definitions of a ``one year food unit.'' These units are calorie-deficient, sugar-heavy, or simply misleading to consumers.

Mike Adams, creator of Y2KNEWSWIRE.COM, explains, ``They're harming the reputation of the many credible, concerned suppliers working to get people prepared.'' One particular 1-year ``unit'' provides barely over 500 calories a day. ``It's a starvation diet,'' says Adams, who explains that legitimate food supplies should provide around 2000 calories per day per person. ``Suggesting that people should live off 500 calories per day, even in a crisis situation, is blatantly dishonest,'' he adds.

But the problem is not always too few calories. ``Many food suppliers are loading up on sugars and fats to achieve a calorie target,'' explains Carol Munsen, president of Millennium Three Foods in Bozeman, Montana. ``M3M Foods,'' as it is called in the industry, designed a food system from the ground up that balances macronutrient ratios (protein, carbohydrates, fats) and supplies nearly 2,000 calories a day. ``Too many companies are offering one-year units that assume you only eat twice a day,'' says Munsen. ``Do you really want to live on two meals a day?''

Clearly, standards are needed in the storable food industry. The term, ``one year unit'' can mean anything... or nothing. Y2KNEWSWIRE suggests people consider these items when choosing a food product: total calories, macronutrient balance, variety, container size, and taste. A one-year unit, says Adams, should include fruits, vegetables, dairy, grains, legumes and protein products (either soy-based or dried meat).

Y2KNEWSWIRE has issued five public safety alerts in an ongoing effort to save lives and minimize fear during the coming Y2K rollover. Previous alerts have covered bank scams, safe generator use, and public water safety.

http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/990322/wy_y2knews_1.html

-- Norm (nwo@hotmail.com), March 22, 1999

Answers

Thanks, Norm. That's a good warning to anyone looking for a quick fix.

-- KoFE (your@town.USA), March 22, 1999.

Way to go Norm! You finally found some good advice. I knew you could do it!!! Thanks. <:)=

-- Sysman (y2kboard@yahoo.com), March 22, 1999.

Y2K is no reason to ignore the time-honored phrase caveat emptor. I would imagine most of these businesses are honest, but I've chosen to buy my extra food from the grocery store.

-- Linkmeister (link@librarian.edu), March 22, 1999.

Also, be doubly aware and skeptical of those who ask for payment in advance and never ship!

A friend of mine has cancelled cheques dated last April, 1998 for over $1,200 and is now being told to contact some other outfit that has supposedly failed to ship. It's called ping pong and you become the battered ball.

Unfortunately, scams abound. Those who are thinking about placing orders with strangers might want to ask here first for feedback about their proven reputability.

Buyer beware, beware, beware !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-- Watchful (seethesea@msn.com), March 22, 1999.

IMO, there is absolutely no reason to order long-life storage foods for Y2K preparedness purposes - supermarket shopping will serve you much better. Here's my reasons for feeling this way:

Let's say you've received your order of a two-year supply of expensive, freeze-dried, nitrogen-packed food in #10 cans. Cost: several thousands of dollars. One question: What's the quality of all that food like? Not a representative can, but ALL the food? Obviously, you hope it's in good shape, but there's simply no way to tell... still, you're possibly staking your life on that assumption. I like the majority of my food where I can see it, sample it, examine it, and (very important) replace it if there's a problem with it. No can do with stuff in #10 cans.

My other major objection to these "year's-supply" type of package deals is that they contain food that your system is going to take quite a while to get used to. Like whole wheat, freeze-dried food can raise havoc with your gastrointestinal tract unless you've built up a tolerance to it. W/ITSHTF, the last thing you'll need will be a major-league case of the skitters.

In all fairness, there are cases where I feel this type of storage is justified, for example: in a cache situation, in a remote bugout cabin, or as a backup to more conventional food storage. Admittedly some foods are best stored in #10 cans, like perhaps powdered eggs, but in the majority of cases grocery-store items keep very well if properly stored, and cost a *lot* less.

-- sparks (wireless@home.com), March 22, 1999.

Sparks, amen and amen again, let's hear it for commmon sense. Supermarket or Costco shopping is all anybody needs in way of food shopping. Don't get fleeced!

-- Mouse (bit0cheese@please.com), March 23, 1999.

Buy Ramen Noodle soup (WalMart has good prices- 10 to 15c each). Good deal, tastes good. Package says 2 servings, but really one good sized serving.

-- Glinda Nofzinger (A Believer@Peace.com), March 23, 1999.

Hi Glinda,

I haven't checked, but I've read that ramen noodles don't keep well because they have a fairly high fat content. I do know I've thrown away some that were only a year old because they didn't taste right when I tried to use them.

-- Dean -- from (almost) Duh Moines (dtmiller@nevia.net), March 23, 1999.