Be prepared
Emergency food preparedness
Emergencies do not wait for a grocery run. A shelf-stable stash means an allergy family is not starting from zero when stores are closed or shelves are thin. This is a starting list of shelf-stable foods, adapted from a vegan emergency food guide. We have not checked any item for milk (dairy), egg, or any other allergen. Use it to plan, then read every label at the store.
Watch for other allergens too. Some items here contain soy (tofu, tempeh, soy milk), wheat (couscous, farro, barley), sesame (tahini), or coconut.
How we built this list. We started from the source guide and left off anything where we found milk or egg in the ingredients, a "may contain" or shared facility or equipment warning for milk or egg, or a brand whose plants also handle milk or egg. Online information is often out of date and not finding a warning does not mean there is none, so the label in your hand is what counts.
allergysafeusa.com/emergency
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2 to 4 weeks
Plan for at least 2 to 4 weeks of food per person.
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Rotate your stock
Use the oldest first, restock as you go, and check expiration dates.
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Cool, dry, dark
Store everything in a cool, dry, dark place.
Jump to Grains and starches, Canned and shelf-stable foods, Plant-based proteins, Fats and staples, Seasonings and flavor, Shelf-stable plant milks, Fresh produce for longer storage, Emergency supplies (non-food).
Grains and starches
- Quaker Rolled Oats (Old Fashioned)
- Ben's Original Brown Rice (plain)
- 365 Farro
- 365 Organic Couscous (plain)
- Organic Barley
- Mahatma Jasmine Rice
Check the exact label every time: wrapper, size, and flavor, before you buy or eat. Brands and varieties change.
Canned and shelf-stable foods
- 365 Organic Lentils
- Good and Gather Chickpeas
- Goya Black Beans
- Goya Red Kidney Beans
- 365 Cannellini Beans
- Muir Glen Organic Diced Tomatoes
- 365 Tomato Sauce
- Aroy-D Coconut Milk
- 365 Crushed Tomatoes
- Del Monte Whole Kernel Corn
- Green Giant Green Beans
- 365 Green Peas
- 365 Mixed Vegetables
- Libby's Pumpkin
- Bruce's Sweet Potatoes
- 365 Tomato Paste
Check the exact label every time: wrapper, size, and flavor, before you buy or eat. Brands and varieties change.
Plant-based proteins
- Goya Black Beans
- 365 Chickpeas
- Extra-firm tofu (shelf-stable carton)
- Organic tempeh (needs the fridge or freezer)
Check the exact label every time: wrapper, size, and flavor, before you buy or eat. Brands and varieties change.
Fats and staples
- Pompeian Organic Olive Oil
- Chosen Foods Avocado Oil
- Nutiva Coconut Oil
- Mighty Sesame Co. Organic Tahini
- 365 Sunflower Seeds
- 365 Chia Seeds
- 365 Ground Flaxseed
Check the exact label every time: wrapper, size, and flavor, before you buy or eat. Brands and varieties change.
Seasonings and flavor
- 365 Garlic Powder
- 365 Onion Powder
- 365 Sea Salt
- Fresh garlic, ginger, and herbs
Check the exact label every time: wrapper, size, and flavor, before you buy or eat. Brands and varieties change.
Shelf-stable plant milks
- Oatly Oat Milk (The Original)
- Silk Soy Milk (Original)
- Ripple Pea Milk (Original)
- Elmhurst Milked Oats
- Bragg Nutritional Yeast
Check the exact label every time: wrapper, size, and flavor, before you buy or eat. Brands and varieties change.
Fresh produce for longer storage
- Potatoes
- Sweet potatoes
- Onions
- Garlic
- Winter squash (acorn, butternut)
Check the exact label every time: wrapper, size, and flavor, before you buy or eat. Brands and varieties change.
Emergency supplies (non-food)
- Manual can opener
- Water storage containers
- Food storage bins
- Mylar bags
- Oxygen absorbers
- Food grade buckets
Keep water too. Ready.gov suggests at least one gallon per person per day.
Check the exact label, wrapper, size, and flavor every time. Brands and recipes change. "Vegan" on a label does not rule out milk or egg cross-contact. This is a starting list, not medical advice, and no item on it is verified for any allergen. Ask your allergist about your child's emergency plan. Read the full disclaimer
Adapted from the Good Thymes Herb Vegan Emergency Food Guide. Brand names are examples from that guide, not endorsements. Allergy Safe USA is not affiliated with Good Thymes Herb or any brand listed.
Looking for products? Browse the milk- and egg-free grocery list, or see more parent resources.