Frequently Asked Questions
PROP 65
What is this warning?
California Proposition 65 is a law that is unique to the State of California. Regulations concerning the law are processed through the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), which maintains a list of chemicals that it determines as ‘known to the State of California to cause cancer and/or reproductive toxicity’.
Why does my product have this warning?
California Proposition 65 entitles California consumers to special warnings for products that contain chemicals determined by the state of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm if those products expose consumers to such chemicals above a certain level set by California.
How does CA Prop 65 differ from federal regulations under the consumer product safety improvement act (CPSIA)?
It should be noted that California product label warning requirements are not usually the same as federal safety requirements. This causes a mismatch between warnings on products sold in California and what is required elsewhere in the U.S.A. So this can explain why sometimes you may see a California Prop 65 warning on a product sold in California but no warning on the same product sold elsewhere. The products are not different; it’s just that Prop 65 warnings are required for sales to California consumers.
Additionally, there are various substances that require a California Prop 65 warning at levels that are far more stringent than federal action limits. One example is lead. The Prop 65 standard for warnings for lead is 0.5 micrograms per day, which is far more stringent than federal and international standards for lead.
Why don't all similar products carry the warning?
Because of inconsistent Prop 65 enforcement, this sometimes explains why you will see certain products in the market with warnings, and virtually identical products without warnings. Other companies may elect not to provide warnings because, in their assessment, they conclude that they are not required to do so under Prop 65 standards. A lack of warnings for a product does not necessarily mean that the products is free of the same substances at similar levels.
Is it safe?
We emphasize that a Proposition 65 warning does not necessarily mean a product is in violation of any product-safety standards or requirements. All Exxel and American Rec products meet federal regulatory standards. Some products may contain one or more listed chemicals that, by California standards may present a risk of cancer and/or reproductive toxicity, if exposure levels to an individual are high. The Warning is provided to allow consumers to assess their individual risk.
Canned & Bottled foods/beverages
California requires the following notice:
WARNING: Many food and beverage cans have linings containing bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical known to the State of California to cause harm to the female reproductive system. Jar lids and bottle caps may also contain BPA. You can be exposed to BPA when you consume foods or beverages packaged in these containers. For more information go to: www.P65Warnings.ca.gov/BPA.
Coffee/Roasted Nuts/Baked Goods & Snacks
California requires the following notice:
WARNING: Chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm, including acrylamide, are present in coffee and some roasted nuts, baked goods and snack foods such as chips. Acrylamide is not added to these products, but results naturally from the roasting, baking or cooking process. The FDA has not advised people to stop consuming foods that are fried, roasted, or baked. For more information regarding the FDA's views, visit www.fda.gov.
FRUIT
Q: Cute fruit jars? Who, where, how can I get them?
A: Yes they are adorable … Polar is an import distribution company and unfortunately, we do not house or supply empty jars and/or lids as this is provided with the product from our supplier. In addition, we cannot provide our consumers with our suppliers contact information.
Q: Is there corn syrup in your fruit jars?
A: Most fruit products on the market usually contain dextrose, corn syrup and other additives to control the sweetness level. However, Polar fruit in jars contains its all natural sweetness from the fruit that is in light syrup which consists of water and sugar.
Q: Does the calorie count include the juice or is it just the fruit content?
A: The total calorie count on the jars does include the juice.
Q: Are all the fruits in jars cooked?
A: Yes, the fruit in jars are cooked prior to being jarred.
Q: What is the shelf life on the open jar of fruit?
A: If stored in the refrigerator to prolong its freshness after opening, it can last up to 5 -7 days.
Q: Is it alright to consume the fruit after the best used by date?
A: No. We strongly do not recommend you to consume the product after the best used by date for safety reasons.
Q: Are there any cross contamination from nuts to fruit:
A: Our supplier who manufactures fruits in jars only manufactures the fruits that are placed into the jar. However, some natural fruits that contain pits are taken out of the fruit prior to processing. Any other types of nuts are not part of the supplier’s product line, therefore, leaving no chance for any cross contamination.
Q: Where can I get empty fruit glass jars and lids for my own use?
A: Polar Foods is an import distribution company and unfortunately, we do not house or supply empty jars or lids as this is readily provided with the product from our supplier. Unfortunately, we cannot provide our consumers with contact information for the jars and lids.
SEAFOOD
Q: You opened a canned seafood product and may have noticed that it appears to be some foreign object that look like shards of glass.
A: It's more than likely not glass. These natural yet harmless crystals are known as Struvite (magnesium ammonium phosphate) and this mineral fragment will dissolve in digestive juices of the stomach. On rare occasions, it will develop in the can during storage and look like pieces of broken glass that are colorless, transparent, and tasteless and differ in size and shape. To tell apart from glass, you may boil crystals in one part vinegar and one part water solution. You’ll see the crystals will dissolve, as glass will not.
Q: Are the Herring Fillets farm raised?
A: Herring fillets raised in a farm? Of course not, our herring fillets are wild caught in the North Atlantic oceans, bathed in tasty sauces or naturally smoked from Germany.
Q: Why are my Oysters green?
A: The green color on oysters is a very natural occurrence and it is not harmful for digestion. All oysters naturally contain green color inside its stomach from its food source. Usually, this color is more visible when the oysters are younger but becomes more covered as the oyster gets older and the wall lining thickens. Also, the taste tends to be better with these younger oysters.
Q: Canned seafood, do you need to cook them?
A: All canned seafood products are fully cooked and ready to be consumed straight from the can for your immediate enjoyment.
Q: I am concerned about Mercury in my canned seafood!
A: Although there may have been some talk about mercury in sea water fish, the traces can be found most on their skin. The mercury levels vary from the size of the fish as the larger and older fish may have had many years to accumulate in their bodies. However, studies indicate that a person has to consume at least 3 cans of Tuna/canned seafood everyday for a number of years to have enough mercury in their body to cause any health concerns. Mercury levels in Polar canned seafood are at minimal trace and are guaranteed to be under the FDA’s limit.
Q: You opened a can seafood product and if your instant thought is, “is that shards of glass I see?”
A: These natural yet harmless crystals are known as Struvite (magnesium ammonium phosphate) and this mineral fragment will dissolve in digestive juices of the stomach. On rare occasions, it will develop in the can during storage and look like pieces of broken glass that are colorless, transparent, and tasteless and differ in size and shape. To tell apart from glass, you may boil crystals in one part vinegar and one part water solution. You’ll see the crystals will dissolve, as glass will not.
Q: Is your tuna Dolphin Safe?
A: Yes, Polar Tuna is a Dolphin Safe product. Our suppliers are fully committed to ensuring their vessels are in compliance with the Dolphin Safe standards.
PIE FILLING
Q: Gluten free? What is the modified food starch that is contained in the pie filling?
A: Yes, our line of pie filling is gluten free which contains no wheat substance. Polar pie filling contains modified food starch that is made from potato.
Q: Where can I find pie filling recipes?
A: You may locate this at our recipe section of our site.
Q: Does the pie filling need to be cooked prior to consuming?
A: The pie filling is ready to be consumed straight from the can as this is also used as a topping as desired.
PRESERVES
Q: Do the preserves contain sulfur or ascorbic acid?
A: Polar preserves do not contain sulfur or ascorbic acid.
Q: What is the color of Mulberry Preserves?
A: There are different colors of mulberry’s and usually it depends on where they are grown. Some are light in color and some are dark in color, however, our recent preserves are now a darker color.
Q: Do the jar of preserves need to be refrigerated after opening?
A: It does not necessarily need to be refrigerated; however, just as with any product, to pro-long its freshness, you may refrigerate after opening.
Q: Are Polar preserves gluten free?
A: Yes, our line of preserves is gluten-free.
VEGETABLES
Q: Are the artichokes gluten free?
A: Yes, Polar artichokes are gluten free.
GENERAL
Q: Gluten, soy, nuts, cross-contamination, allergens… oh my! Does my favorite Polar product have this?
A: Most of our Polar products are gluten-free. Any allergens will be listed in the product ingredients and are free from cross-contamination.
Q: My favorite Polar Product is past its best used by date, I think it is still ok to eat it.
A: Risk taker or not, we always recommend you not to eat the product after the best used by date. Ensuring the can is kept in good condition and stored at room temperature will help with keeping the contents fresh up until the best use by date. As with any canned product, if stored improperly or in high temperatures, there are chances for it to have a reduced shelf life.
Q: How do you source your products?
A: Every product has its origin in which they are supplied from. Please refer to your label for product origin or contact us for more detailed information.
Q: If my local store does not have my favorite Polar product, where can I find it?
A: Polar Foods is a canned food import distribution company and our products are sold through food distributors, brokers and retail head offices. We often don’t necessarily know the specific retail stores and locations our product will be carried in. However, you may purchase your favorite Polar product through Amazon.com or request from your local grocery store to add Polar products to their shelves!
Q: Are Polar canned products BPA (Bisphenol-A) free?
A: We import canned foods from all over the world and conduct our imports through FDA’s regulations. All of our products and packaging are within food and safety regulations and guidelines. The health and safety of all our products have always been the highest priority for Polar Foods. We deal with many suppliers and each use an independent laboratory for testing. The majority of our suppliers have confirmed they have been certified BPA free. For those suppliers that have reported a slight trace of BPA, the percentage level of detection resulted to be under the safety limit. Based on our supplier’s certificate of statement of compliance, we believe our products are safe for use with regards to BPA.
Q: Are your products Kosher certified?
A: Polar products are Kosher certified and are registered by our supplier with their country’s Kosher registration authority in which they exam for product ingredients and other requirements to approve the product Kosher. Our product will have a kosher symbol on it if it has been Kosher certified.
Q: I only need to use a portion of my favorite Polar product, should I refrigerate after opening?
A: Refrigeration after opening is typically suggested of any product as this helps prolong its freshness for up to 3 – 5 days.
Q: What is the shelf life of products?
A: The shelf life of each product may differ slightly. But a good general rule is from the date of production, the product is good for up to 3 years from the production date.
Q: Once the product has been opened, how long is it good for before it needs to be thrown away?
A: You may store in a glass or plastic container and refrigerate for up to 3 – 5 days.
Q: I just opened a can of my favorite Polar product and I’m not going to use it all. How can I store the left over canned food?
A: The best way is to store it is in a glass or plastic container and/or plastic baggies and store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. However, since our products are delicious, it will most likely be consumed before that time ;)
