Shopping for a space flight at PathMark

[Fat Guy]

Hi Vickie. Thanks so much for taking the time to do this Q&A.

What items, if any, can I pick up at a normal grocery store that would be considered space-worthy?

[Vickie Kloeris]

Below is a list of some of the commercial items we use. Almost all of these items are repackaged before going to orbit. The exception would be the canned items, like the Del Monte single serving fruits.

Commercially Available Space Food Items

ITEM BRAND/MANUFACTURER

Brownie Little Debbie from McKee Baking Company

Plain M&M’s M&M Mars Inc

Peanut M&M’s M&M Mars, Inc

Oatmeal with Brown Sugar Instant from Quaker Oats We add non fat dry milk

Oatmeal w/Raisins Instant from Quaker Oats We add non fat dry milk

Bran Chex Ralston Purina; Multi-Bran Chex We add non fat dry milk

Cornflakes Frosted Flakes; Kellogg’s We add non fat dry milk

Granola Heartland-Pet, Inc We add non fat dry milk

Granola w/Raisins Heartland-Pet, Inc We add non fat dry milk

Grits with Butter Instant Grits from Quaker We add Butter Buds

Rice Krispies Kellogg’s We add non fat dry milk

Butter Cookies Chessman from Pepperidge Farms

Shortbread Cookies Lorna Doone from Nabisco

Butter Crackers Butter crackers from Keebler

Dried Apricots Del Monte

Diced Peaches Del Monte Single serving can with flip top lid

Dried Peaches Del Monte

Diced Pears Del Monte Single serving can with flip top lid

Pineapple Del Monte Single serving can with flip top lid

Granola Bar Sunbelt from McKee Baking Company

Almonds Hickory Smoked from Blue Diamond

Cashews Whole cashews from Planters

Peanuts Dry roasted from Planters

Banana Pudding Handi-Snacks from Kraft Plastic tub with foil peelable lid

Butterscotch Pudding Handi-Snacks from Kraft Plastic tub with foil peelable lid

Chocolate Pudding Handi-Snacks from Kraft Plastic tub with foil peelable lid

Tapioca Pudding Handi-Snacks from Kraft Plastic tub with foil peelable lid

Vanilla Pudding Handi-Snacks from Kraft Plastic tub with foil peelable lid

Salmon Pink Salmon from Chicken of the Sea Single serve can with flip top lid

Tuna Albacore, solid white in spring water from Starkist Single serve can with flip top lid

Apple Cider Alpine Cider Mix from Continental Mills

Coffee Instant; Tasters Choice from Nestle

Coffee, Decaff Instant, Tasters Choice from Nestle

Lemonade Country Time

Lemonade with Artifical

Sweetener Country Time

Orange Drink Tang from Kraft/General Foods

Tea Instant from Nestea

Tropical Punch Kool-Aid from Kraft/General Foods

[SethG]

Sounds like Sandra Lee would be right at home on the space shuttle! NASA might want to consider taking a look at her "semi-homemade" cuisine.

Edited to add: this comment is intended to criticize Sandra Lee, not NASA. Astrounauts obviously have severe restrictions on what they can take into space. I just thought these limitations might make space the one appropriate place for her preservative-laden creations!

Edited January 14, 2004 by SethG (log)

[Vickie Kloeris]

Yes, we do have a lot of preservatives in our food system, but as you state...circumstances necessitate it.

[hillvalley]

Thanks for taking the time to chat with us.

Has the trend in individualized packaging made life any easier for those who plan/prepare the meals?

[Vickie Kloeris]

Not really. Any materials that are used in significant quantities on board a spacecraft have to be tested and approved. Therefore, it is easier for us to repackage products like nuts, cookies, crackers, etc into a standard package rather than going to the expense of testing all the different manufacturer's packaging materials...and then having to retest them when the manufacturer changes them.