Here's a good link on food storage questions:

http://learntoprepare.com/2011/11/food-storage-packing-do-it-yourself-facts-myths-revisited/

Even packaged, some food items don't last a long time in storage, such as powdered milk, fats, oils, etc. White rice, unground wheat etc do last quite a while.

One thing I've been trying is using mason jars, packaging the product, and then adding an oxygen absorber, which does seal the jar (eliminates the oxygen leaving a nitrogen atmosphere inside the jar.)

tim

I find that mice and insects go through zip lock bags quite easily. I use sports drinks bottles to hold grains, staples, pasta, etc. Tough, light, free, they hold a decent amount, but not so much that the loss of one is not a great loss. The empties can store water and it keeps them out of the landfill.

Glass jars with tight fitting lids work great as well.

Interesting. The LDS cannery claims 20 years shelf life below 75 F. I'm wondering whether this is because their cans are sealed, or they are just overly optimistic?

What I noticed was the "Black Jack" gum LOL

I think that studies were done at BYU and Utah State Ag departments to coincide with this fact YMMV

Im not an expert, but I would imagine the long life claim is due to being vacuum sealed in a can with an oxygen absorber vs. stored in a big plastic bag.

Might also the definition of "shelf life' be involved? I am not sure, but I could imagine food being not so yummy, but still having nutritional value, suitable for consumption in an emergency...