Costco’s ’emergency food bucket’ a hit with doomsday-minded shoppers | US News

The growing threat of climate change and the increase in unpredictable natural disasters that come with it are driving survival-minded shoppers to a possible bucket of salvation at Costco.

The large retail warehouse is selling the “Readywise Emergency Food Bucket” for about $80 to its U.S. customers.

“In a world where unpredictability has become a constant, our line plays a vital role in emergency preparedness,” reads the product description on Costco’s website. “Imagine the sudden onset of extreme weather, the challenges of unexpected job changes, or the unsettling thought of food shortages. That’s when having a reliable source of food can be a game changer.”

The bucket contains 150 food pouches in a variety of flavors, including chicken alfredo, creamy pasta and vegetables, teriyaki rice, macaroni and cheese, as well as puddings, cereal and a mix called “orange drink mix.” Perhaps most remarkable, these meals also have a 25-year shelf life.

The Readywise product offers: “80 servings of hearty main dishes and sides, 30 servings of nutritious breakfasts and 40 additional servings of beverages. Easy preparation, just add water.”

This summer alone, natural disasters like severe flooding have stranded residents in areas like the Midwest or forced them to evacuate. The aftermath of Hurricane Beryl left residents in Houston, Texas, without power for days, leaving refrigerated and frozen foods spoiled.

Some social media users have dubbed the product the “Doomsday Kit” or the “Apocalypse Dinner Kit.”

Instagram user and cookbook author Jeffrey Eisner said in a video that he had never seen anything like it before.

Eisner said, “When the world is falling apart and falling apart, as long as you have your Readywise food supply, all is well with the world.”