Non-Dairy Beverages

Are these products dairy, casein and whey free?

Yes! All of Pacific Natural Foods non-dairy beverages are completely dairy free, including casein and whey.

Are these products vegan?

Yes! All of Pacific Natural Foods non-dairy beverages are vegan – including the vitamins used in select products.

Can I bake with the non-dairy beverages?

You can. All of our non-dairy beverages are safe for baking and cooking purposes. They’re great for baking!

 

Original & Vanilla Flavored Hemp Milks
 

What is the source of the nutrition in your Hemp Milks?

Hemp seeds are a nutritional powerhouse. They naturally contain a good balance of the essential fatty acids (EFAs) Omega 3 and Omega 6 as well as 10 amino acids and the micronutrients Vitamins A, D, B12, E, Riboflavin and Calcium. In fact, each serving of Pacific Natural Foods’ Hemp Milks delivers 4 grams of Protein and 50% of the Daily Value of Calcium. By the serving, our Hemp Milks are an excellent source of Calcium, Magnesium, Vitamins D, B12 & Riboflavin.

I see flecks in my Pacific Hemp Milk, where do these come from?

Hemp seeds are the edible portion of the plant. They are encased in a hull that is separated from the seeds before they are ground. Remnants of the hull can be ground with the seeds during processing and leave naturally occurring flecks in the milk that do not affect its flavor or texture.

Do hemp seeds contain THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana?

Hemp and marijuana are different, yet related plants. Hemp is used in many products, mostly as a food, oil or fiber. Hemp has to pass strict testing laws and does not contain THC. It is completely safe and legal to consume.

Do your hemp beverages contain gluten?

No. Pacific’s Hemp Milks are free from gluten, dairy and lactose. They are also free from alcohol, corn, wheat, barley, soy, egg, corn syrup, and animal products, making it a great alternative to other beverages for those with special diets. Our Hemp Milks are also designated Kosher parve.

Do hemp beverages taste like other nut or grain non-dairy beverages?

Pacific’s Hemp Milk has a unique, slightly nutty flavor similar to pine nuts or sunflower seeds, and a creamy texture. Like all of our nut and grain beverages, its flavor is distinctive yet mild enough for versatile uses such as on cereal, in smoothies or your other favorite ways to enjoy non-dairy beverages.

Are your Hemp Milks sweetened?

Yes, we sweeten our Original and Vanilla Hemp Milks with brown rice syrup.

Your labels read “Natural Flavors”’ what are these natural flavors?

The Natural Flavors used in the Vanilla flavored Hemp Milk consist of natural Vanilla Flavor and Plant Aromatics. Our “Natural Flavors” are all natural, vegetarian, contain no artificial ingredients, and are free of gluten, dairy and animal products.
   

Regarding the “Other Natural Flavors” statement, what are plant aromatics?

An aromatic is an essence from a plant which is recovered through an extraction process. Plant aromatics refer to a blend of natural ingredients used to strengthen the dominant flavor by enhancing it with certain notes of additional preferred flavors. All these additional notes originate from plant sources and are less than one percent of the flavor. The percent of aromatic actually in the finished product is miniscule. The names of these plant sources are proprietary information.

What if I am allergic to something in the natural flavors?

When any of the regulated allergens (milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, or soy) are included in the natural flavors or spices, we list those allergens on the label according to The Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act. None of these are listed on the Hemp Milk labels.

Both flavors have “Xanthan Gum” in the ingredient statement. What is it? Is it a natural ingredient?

Xanthan gum is an all-natural ingredient obtained through a natural fermentation process. It acts as a thickening agent and will bind water, the latter being the reason why it is added to our Hemp Milks – to keep water from separating out and forming a layer on top of the beverage.

Can you heat the products for hot cocoa or other recipes?

Yes, they can be used as a substitute for milk in various recipes, but note that the finished product may have different textures and properties than those cooked with milk. When cooking, stir regularly to avoid burning the product. 

Since these beverages are inherently sweeter than Dairy Milk, they may not be suitable for savory dishes.  Moreover, in recipes that call for added sweetener, you may want to reduce the amount of sweetener added.

 

Original & Chocolate Hazelnut Non-Dairy Beverages

Are your Hazelnut Beverages sweetened?

Yes, we sweeten our Original and Chocolate Hazelnut beverages with brown rice sweetener. The Chocolate flavor is also sweetened with evaporated cane juice.
 

What is brown rice sweetener, and why is it added?

Brown rice sweetener is an ingredient produced by Pacific Foods of Oregon for exclusive use in the manufacturing of our beverages. This sweetener is regulated to provide the consistency and flavor that is most preferred for use in our beverages.  We add this to enhance the flavor of this beverage.
 

What is tricalcium phosphate, and why is it added?

Tricalcium phosphate originates from phosphate rock.  We use it in our products as a calcium supplement.

What is vitamin A palmitate, and why is it added?

This vitamin is plant derived, usually from algae.  We add this to enrich the beverage and give it the same vitamin content as dairy milk.

What is carrageenan, and why is it added?

It is a gum extracted from types of red seaweed.  Several different types of carrageenan are extracted, and all have different functions.  They are useful in dairy products to protect milk proteins, and they work as thickening agents and gelling agents in many food products.

Guar gum is in the Original flavor. What is it and why is it added?

It is a gum obtained from the seed kernel of the guar plant, Cyamopsis tetragonoloba. It is useful as a thickening agent and a stabilizer in many food products.  It is also called guaran.

Xanthan gum is in the Original flavor. What is it and why is it added?

It is a gum obtained by microbial fermentation from the Xanthomonas campestris organism. It is useful as a thickening agent.  
 

Carob bean gum is in the Original flavor. What is it and why is it added?

It is a gum obtained from the seed of the locust bean tree Ceratonia siligua and is also known as locust bean gum and Saint Johns bread. We use this as a thickening agent in this beverage.