Q: How do you make sure your products are free of the listed allergens?
We are very careful about our incoming ingredients and follow specific steps to be sure that we are labeling accurately for the top 10 food allergens and gluten. If you would like to review those policies and our allergen declarations, please see our Allergy Policies and our Allergen Declarations pages.

Q: Are your chocolate chips and chunks both nut free and dairy free?
Our chocolate chips and chunks are manufactured for us in Canada in a peanut/nut free facility and on a dairy free line. Cocoa butter is not from dairy but is the fat that is naturally present in cocoa beans.

Q: Why aren't your granola products labelled as gluten free in Canada or on your website? Are they suitable for gluten free diets?
According to current Canadian regulations for food labeling, oats are not allowed to be termed "gluten free" even when they are tested for gluten contamination, as ours are. This regulation extends to marketing and advertising, including our website. Pure, uncontaminated oats such as those that we use may be referred to as Wheat, Barley and Rye free. Because of recent advances in the manufacturing and testing of pure oats, this label regulation is currently under review by Health Canada. Oats that are not labeled as pure should be avoided as they are considered to be cross contaminated with gluten.

Health Canada, The Canadian Celiac Association and the Gluten Intolerance Group now recommend pure oats in moderation as a suitable part of most gluten free diets. An estimated 2-5% of Celiacs may have difficulty tolerating the proteins specific to oats and are advised to consult with their doctors.

Q: Are your granola products considered gluten free in the US?
Yes, and you'll see that indicated on all granola bar boxes and cluster labels and any advertising Nonuttin' places on US websites newsletters. In the US, products may be considered gluten free as long as they are tested for gluten cross-contamination to below 20 ppm (parts per million) using currently accepted scientific methods. Not only is every batch of the pure oats we use tested, so is the crisp rice we use.

Q: Why do you have the prices in Canadian dollars with approximate US dollars below?
Because we are a Canadian company, all prices are shown and billed in Canadian dollars. However, if you are purchasing from the United States, your dollar may not be the same value as the Canadian dollar. We check the going rate of the Canadian/US exchange on a regular basis and this is what shows underneath the Canadian dollar amount. We do indicate that it is an "approximate" US dollar amount because the actual rate that your credit card company applies to your charge may be different depending on your bank's exchange rate and their fees.

Q: Why do I get an invoice with the Canadian price when I'm American? Where does the US price get applied?
We are a Canadian company so all prices are shown and billed in Canadian dollars on your invoice. Where you will see the actual amount you paid in American dollars is when you receive your credit card statement. At that time, you will see the amount you purchased in Canadian dollars from Nonuttin' Foods, the exchange rate that your credit card company applied and then the actual amount in US dollars that you were charged. The approximate US price indicated on the Nonuttin' website may not match your credit card statement depending on your bank's applied exchange rate and their fees.

Q: Why do you have a sesame warning if the Nonuttin' facility is sesame free?
The Nonuttin' facility uses no seeds of any type however there is less than 1% of whole sesame seeds in 1 product run on the same line of the organic crisp rice we get from another company. That company has laid out for us the methods they use to clean between product runs and what quality control procedures are in place to inspect for cleanliness and for isolated storage of the sesame seeds. Further, Nonuttin' Foods has each crisp rice batch we use tested at an independent lab for sesame before arriving at the Nonuttin' facility, all of which have tested negative.

Some may feel that with all of this in place, it isn't necessary to put a sesame warning on. We do feel that it should be your choice based on your comfort level. This is also why we put the sesame warning on US packaging even though it isn't listed as a top allergen in the US as it is in Canada.

Q: Are Nonuttin' products considered natural?
It depends on which country you are located in. In the USA, all Nonuttin' products are considered natural and you will see that on our American compliant packaging.

In Canada, many of our products are considered natural. The only ones that aren't are those with flavouring in them. Following Canadian labeling regulations, any food that has flavour added (even if the flavour is natural, as ours are) it is not considered natural. Rather than confuse our customers, none of our Canadian products are labeled "natural" but instead all say, "No artificial flavours, colours or preservatives."

Q: Do you use any Genetically Modified ingredients (GMOs)?
No. All of our ingredient suppliers have provided us with statements to affirm that the ingredients they use or the seeds they grow are not genetically modified. Because canola that is not genetically modified can be very difficult to guarantee, the manufacturer who produces our canola oil has the oil tested to be sure it is free of any genetically modified organisms.

Q: Are your products Kosher?
Yes, Nonuttin' products have been certified Kosher pareve since April 2005 by BC Kosher out of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. All Nonuttin' products have the BCK symbol on them

Q: There is chocolate liquor in your chocolate chips. Is this a kind of alcohol?
Chocolate liquor does not have any alcohol in it and does not use alcohol during the process. Chocolate liquor is what is created when the roasted cacao bean is ground. As the grinding breaks down the bean, cocoa butter is released and begins to melt, creating the chocolate liquor. All chocolate (except white) has chocolate liquor in it in varying amounts with darker chocolate having more than milk chocolate. It is what gives chocolate the flavour we've come to know and love.

Q: What is the shelf life of your products?
All Nonuttin' products have a best before date indicated on the package. When kept at room temperature and out of direct light and heat Nonuttin' products have the following shelf life from the date of manufacture and prior to opening:
Nonuttin' granola bars – 6 months (new 12 month packaging phasing in starting October 2008)
Nonuttin' granola clusters – 12 months (large or small packs)
Nonuttin' trail mixes – 12 months (large or small packs)
Nonuttin' cherry fruit chips – 12 months
Nonuttin' chocolate chips – 12 months
Nonuttin' chocolate chunks – 12 months
Nonuttin' sulfite free dried apples – 12 months

After these periods, the products may be dry, stale tasting and not as visually appealing although they will not be harmful. Many of our products are suitable for stocking in emergency kits for homes, schools and offices.

Q: Can your products be frozen?
Yes, all of the products can be frozen. We recommend freezing for no more than 6 months under regular conditions. Nonuttin' products may then be kept at room temperature for several months as long as they are still sealed.

Q: Do you have sugar in your products?
Yes. We use brown sugar and rice syrup as sweeteners. In addition, some of our ingredients contain sugar.

Q: Are your products vegan friendly?
A: Yes. We have no animal by-products in our products, including honey or gelatin. This makes them a tasty snack or baking ingredient for most vegans. Strict vegans need to be aware that the sugar in Nonuttin' products is sugar cane based.

Q: Can I eat Nonuttin' Granola Bars if I'm diabetic?
Most definitely! The Canadian Diabetes Association does not recommend cutting out specific foods. Nonuttin' Granola Bars have also been reviewed by a registered dietician. She has indicated that diabetic or hypoglycemic individuals can certainly make our bars part of their diet and that the healthy fats, protein and whole grains included in the bars will slow down the absorption of sugars.

In terms of sugar, all varieties of Nonuttin' Granola Bars have less than 2/3 the sugar in a medium apple. The carbohydrate count of the bars is equal to that of a medium apple.

Q: Can I buy wholesale from Nonuttin' Foods?
Absolutely! We welcome inquiries from retail stores, schools, camps, vending and other foodservice companies and we would be happy to serve you.