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Why
can't I find a specific product at my local grocery store?
A. We do not have any control over the inventory your retailer
chooses to carry. Our sales representative can make suggestions,
but the retailer makes the final decision as to what products
they will sell. As a consumer,
feel free to contact the manager of the store where you
shop to inform them of your interest in Colonna Products.
B. The product may not be available in your area due to
limited distribution.
What
is freshness dating?
"Freshest" or "Sell by" dating usually
indicates how long the product will be at its best. There
is no one federal standard on printing freshness dates on
labels, although many food manufacturers include some form
of dating on their labels. It should also be noted that
different food products retain their freshness at different
rates due to the type of ingredients, and the methods of
preparation, packaging and storage. Different formats for
dating include production date codes, "sell by"
dates, and "use by" dates.
What
is the date code?
The date code is the numbers and letters coded onto a package
that indicates the date of the product, not the expiration
date. This could be a Julian number.
What
does the expiration date mean?
The expiration or "use by" date on a food product
is the date before which the manufacturer recommends the
product be used or stored to ensure the quality and consistency.
What
is the "sell by" date?
The "sell by" date is typically used on foods
with relatively short life (e.g., milk and yogurt), and
where freshness control is primarily managed by the retailer.
It is the date by which product should be sold. You can
still safely consume the product for a short time after
that date.
What
is a UPC?
The Universal Product Code symbol is the bar code that is
printed on the package, with several thick, black vertical
lines and a group of numbers printed underneath. It is used
as an inventory control for both the manufacturer and the
store.
Where
can I find the UPC?
The UPC will be visable on the outside packaging, although
it might be covered by transparent plastic.
What
do I do if my product's packaging is damaged?
Colonna Brothers, Inc. does not recommend that you continue
to use a product with damaged packaging. It is up to the
retailer of your product to decide to accept returns.
Where
can I find Colonna Products?
If you are having difficulty finding a specific Colonna
product, ask the manager of your grocery store. He or she
often bases stocking decisions on consumer interest.
Are
your products tested?
Yes, all of our products are tested to ensure quality, safety,
and taste.
Do
your products contain ingredients that I'm allergic to?
Our products may contain an allergen. However, if a common
allergen is in the food, it will be listed on the ingredient
statement even if it appears in small quantities. We do
purchase certain ingredients such as flavors and spices
from suppliers, and they are required to comply with the
same standards pertaining to labeling of allergens.
What
is gluten?
Gluten is a mixture of plant proteins that occurs in grain.
A small percentage of the population has an intolerance
or allergy to foods containing these proteins.
Which
of your products contain gluten?
We are sorry to inform you that we do not have a source
that lists the gluten content of our products. However,
our product labels list common allergens, such as wheat,
for those allergic to wheat gluten.
What
is trans fat?
Trans fat are "transitional fats" between saturated
and unsaturated, and can be present in hydrogenated oils
and also, to a much smaller degree, in animal products such
as meat and dairy products. We are currently analyzing all
our products for trans fat in anticipation of new labeling
rules which will require our products to label trans fat
by the year 2006.
What
is fat free?
According to U.S. nutritional labeling guidelines, a product
that contains less than half a gram of fat per serving can
be labeled as "fat free."
What
is lactose?
Lactose, or milk sugar, is found in most dairy products
such as milk, butter, cheese, yogurt, ice cream, etc. Some
people are lactose intolerant, meaning they have difficulty
digesting lactose. If you are lactose intolerant, the simplest
solution is to read ingredients labels and avoid consuming
foods with dairy product ingredients.
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