It’s necessary - IMHO - to ignore the crux of your question and go to the root of the matter: Gut health. In drafting my book I’ve become aware of an epidemic sweeping the population and, as such, the ‘prepper question’ mandates ensuring intestinal health inasmuch as the very food supplies you seek to inventory. I believe the rising incidence of food poisoning reports is not evidence of ‘dirty food’, but of weak immune systems. I also believe the so-called ‘epidemic of disease’ is a consequence as well.
If anyone truly vested in ‘being prepared’ has a combination of these symptoms, educate yourself and fix your gut:
• Acne or other skin problems
• Anxiety, panic attacks, feeling “blue”
• Blurry eyes, eye teaming problems, eye fatigue, floaters, burning or tearing eyes
• Brain fog, poor concentration, feeling ‘spacey’ (confusion)
• Chills, cold feeling in your extremities (cold feet/hands, turning up the heat regularly)
• Dizziness
• Dry mouth, bad breath
• Ear itching, infections, pressure, swelling or tingling
• Fatigue/extreme lethargy especially after eating
• Food sensitivity/allergies
• Food cravings, increased hunger
• Frequent urination
• Gut symptoms, including: Abdominal cramps alleviated by bowel movements, flatulence, generally heinous, heartburn, indigestion, irregular bowels; diarrhea or constipation, painful bowel movements, IBS
• Hair follicle inflammation (candidiasis folliculitis) of various parts of the body (feet, legs, arms), hair loss
• Headaches
• Hyperactivity, attention problems
• Insomnia
• Irritability, mood swings
• Joint swelling and aches, upper back pain/shoulders/neck, lower back pain
• Light-headedness
• Libido problems
• Memory problems, confusion
• Menstruation irregularity, endometriosis, PMS, flushing, night sweats
• Muscle coordination problems, muscle weakness and muscle/tendon pain
• Nutrient absorption problems, malnutrition, need for vitamin supplements
• Sinus problems, post nasal drip, sinusitis/sinus congestion, sinus irritability, seasonal allergies
• Skin autoimmune conditions (eczema), yeast infections, dandruff, dry skin, dry heel cracking rectal itching or athletes foot, extremities numb, burning or tingling sensations, White coated tongue / Oral thrush
• Symptoms worse after starches and/or sugars or foods containing them
The irony is that most people experiencing many of those symptoms have been doing so for years and have rationalized them as ‘normal’, just as I had done.
Think about it: If your gut isn’t as healthy as your inventory, an intestinal illness will kill you long before the food is gone. As you cite about historical food storage: People survived even when there weren’t refrigerators. I believe that’s telling.
.02
Be well.
The key to gut health is acidophilus type food fermentation, and reduction in sugar intake.