Costco ‘emergency food’ kits spark wild conspiracy theory by doomsday prepper

A popular survivalist TikToker has gone viral with 4.3 million views after sharing a video on Costco's bulk-sized emergency food offerings that store meals for about a month and a half.
A popular survivalist TikToker has gone viral with 4.3 million views after sharing a video on Costco's bulk-sized emergency food offerings that store meals for about a month and a half.

The end is nigh but the savings are high.

A popular survivalist TikToker has gone viral with 4.3 million views after sharing a video on Costco’s bulk-sized emergency food offerings that store meals for about a month and a half.

Now end-times conspiracists — who’ve likely had their bell rung by the latest grim resetting of the J. Robert Oppenheimer-inspired “Doomsday Clock” — are skeptical that influencer Krystal Christensen (@charminglyfrugal) is privy to apocalyptic intel.

Christensen showed off the survival-savvy Ready Wise brand emergency food kit that provides 132 pasta meals for just $63.99 before cutting over to more items like Mountain House freeze dried ice cream sandwiches that sell in six-packs for $9.97.

“It is quite expensive but I’m gonna pick one up because if s–t hits the fan, I’d rather be more comfortable on a day that’s a bummer,” she said.

Many commenters were quick to panic that the apocalyptic climax of “Dr. Strangelove” was about to unfurl as one user asked, “What do they know that we don’t?” — and others shared a panicked sentiment toward what was being inferred.

However, rows of emergency food bundles have been business as usual at Cosco for years.

The members-only store even began selling a year’s worth of canned and non-perishable food — priced at $6,000 and fit for a family of four — in 2018.

A popular survivalist TikToker has gone viral with 4.3 million views after sharing a video on Costco’s bulk-sized emergency food offerings that store meals for about a month and a half. @charminglyfrugal / TikTok
A popular survivalist TikToker has gone viral with 4.3 million views after sharing a video on Costco’s bulk-sized emergency food offerings that store meals for about a month and a half. @charminglyfrugal / TikTok
Influencer Krystal Christensen has plans to stock up on essential goods. @charminglyfrugal / TikTok
Influencer Krystal Christensen has plans to stock up on essential goods. @charminglyfrugal / TikTok

“Enjoy the comfort in knowing you have the essential foods your family will need to survive an emergency or natural disaster!” the big-box store wrote on its packaging at the time.

Sadly, the brand’s famed $1.50 hot dogs are not included.

As to what prompted Christensen’s walkthrough, her clip came on the heels of a very public North Atlantic Treaty Organization warning that a full-blown war with Russia in the next 20 years may be unavoidable.

It was there that Dutch Admiral Rob Bauer, who chairs the NATO military committee, urged emergency preparedness — over time.

The survival-savvy Ready Wise brand emergency food kit provides 132 pasta meals for just $63.99, and other kits ring in a various prices. @charminglyfrugal / TikTok
The survival-savvy Ready Wise brand emergency food kit provides 132 pasta meals for just $63.99, and other kits ring in a various prices. @charminglyfrugal / TikTok

“You need to have water, you need to have a radio on batteries and you need to have a flashlight on batteries to make sure that you can survive the first 36 hours,” he said in a recent press conference.

“Things like that, simple things, but it starts there. The realization that not everything is plannable. Not everything is going to be hunky-dory in the next 20 years.”

Christensen also has shown off emergency supplies at Costco’s rival Sam’s Club along with Sportsman’s Warehouse.

Mountain House freeze dried ice cream sandwiches sell in six-packs for $9.97. @charminglyfrugal / TikTok
Mountain House freeze dried ice cream sandwiches sell in six-packs for $9.97. @charminglyfrugal / TikTok

In another video, Christensen even replayed Bauer’s concerns, adding her own ominous warning.

“You need to start preparing now,” she declared.