Fallout Biscuits
Back in 1961, the U.S. Office of Civil Defense came out with 'fallout biscuits.' They were vitaminized crackers. The idea was that people in fallout shelters could live on these for weeks, or even years, if necessary. The biscuits were cheap to make and lasted pretty much forever, so huge quantities were prepared.
Fast-forward to the twenty-first century. The various places wheres the biscuits were stored, such as the University of Montana, now faced the problem of how to get rid of the thousands of boxes of these things.
Fast-forward to the twenty-first century. The various places wheres the biscuits were stored, such as the University of Montana, now faced the problem of how to get rid of the thousands of boxes of these things.
Orlando Sentinel - Jun 2, 1961
Fort Myers News-Press - May 11, 1961
Comments
We have millions of people dying of hunger all over the world and the Department of Defense still wonders what to do with their fallout biscuits? There are indeed lots of idiots working there! Give the biscuits to UNICEF, dimbulbs! Send them to starving people in Africa and Asia! Better still, sell them to the hundreds of millions of obese people who want a sugarless meal replacement and give the process to UNICEF!
Posted by Yudith on 01/17/18 at 11:55 AM
I'm a big fan the civilian version of the MRE (Meal Rejected by Everyone) and buy a case every few years to keep on hand for car trips and power outages. I probably wouldn't want to try any of the sixty year old foodstuffs spotlighted here, though. Most of those rations were sealed in metal containers, which will deteriorate unless stored under well supervised conditions and let the contents become unfit for consumption. Even the modern meals are rated for a shelf life of five years and the packaging is superior to those old CD packages.
The best that the U of M could do is to dump them in a landfill. Or scatter them for the birds.
The best that the U of M could do is to dump them in a landfill. Or scatter them for the birds.
Posted by KDP on 01/17/18 at 01:06 PM
Yudith - THIS is why they aren't donated. https://youtu.be/dUkQTJO2z0o
Posted by PupTentacle on 01/17/18 at 06:57 PM
PupTentacles, you just proved my point. First, we have dozens of videos of chubby people trying these crackers. Second, birds wouldn't eat that crap but starving orphans would. North Korea would be interested. Myanmar would be interested. When you are starving, this crap tastes delicious, or at least, like food. So have the UN send them to North Korea and sell a little package of those with the recipe as fundraiser. The ad could read like this: "You think it tastes awful? It's the only food for political prisoners in Zimbabwe." Amnesty International would crush its fundraiser goal.
Posted by Yudith on 01/18/18 at 06:03 AM
Commenting is not available in this channel entry.
Category: Food | Atomic Power and Other Nuclear Matters | 1960s