Products – Product Q&A

Product Info
Are any of your products gluten-free? Which ones?

Do any of your products contain MSG?

Are any of your products kosher certified?

Are the Vegetarian Baked Beans completely "meat free"?

What ingredients make up the "natural flavoring" in Bush's Baked Bean products?

What should I do if the seal is broken on my jar of Homestyle Chili?

How do I read the code on the can to determine the expiration date of your products?

What is the shelf life of your products? How long are they safe to consume?

Is it OK to freeze your product?

May I heat the jar of Homestyle Chili in the microwave?

Product Purchase Availability
I am unable to find a particular product in my area. Can you help me locate it?

Is it possible to order product from you by the case?

Where can I purchase your products outside the United States?

Does Bush Brothers & Company make sauerkraut?

Are any of your products gluten-free? Which ones?
All of our Bush's Best products are gluten-free with the exception of Bush's Best Chili Beans, the four varieties of Bush's Homestyle Chili and Bush's Chili Magic^®line.

We use cornstarch in some of our products, but it does not contain gliadin gluten from wheat, barley or rye grains that may cause adverse responses in persons suffering from Celiac Sprue.

Do any of your products contain MSG?
None of our products currently contain any MSG. Be sure to check the product label for details on ingredients and nutritional information.

Are any of your products kosher certified?
Our Vegetarian Baked Beans (16 oz. and 28 oz. sizes only) are kosher. We follow necessary steps to qualify for orthodox kosher certification.

Are the Vegetarian Baked Beans completely "meat free"?
Yes - even the natural flavoring is free of meat and meat by-products.

What ingredients make up the "natural flavoring" in Bush's Baked Bean products?
Although the exact make-up of our "secret family recipe" is proprietary, the "natural flavoring" does not contain any known allergens. For further questions, contact us or write to:

Bush Brothers & Company
Consumer Relations
P.O. Box 52330
Knoxville, TN 37950-2330

What should I do if the seal is broken on my jar of Homestyle Chili?
If the seal was broken when you bought the product, you should not eat the product as it could have been tampered with. If you should break the seal by accident, the product is good as long as the fresh seal button is still indented, not raised.

How do I read the code on the can to determine the expiration date of your products?
As of September 2004, all of our products now have a "Best By" date stamped on the product packaging (e.g. the can end/lid). If your product does not have a "Best By " date, (e.g. BEST BY FEB 2009) but has only a 5-digit code, the shelf life period has expired and the product should not be consumed. If you have questions about the date code, please contact us, toll free, at 1-800-590-3797.

What is the shelf life of your products? How long are they safe to consume?
The majority of our canned goods have a shelf life of 2-3 years from their manufactured date. To determine the manufacture date, see the previous question on how to read can codes. The exception is Chili Magic^®, which has a shelf life of about 1 to 1 1/2 years. Although the product may be safely consumed after the shelf life date if the can shows no signs of deterioration, the product may have lost some of its original flavor.

Is it OK to freeze your product?
Because the canning process preserves our products, it is not necessary to freeze the product for long-term storage. If frozen for a short period of time, there should not be a significant change in the flavor, but the character of the beans will most likely be altered. After being frozen, the beans tend to be much softer than normal. If you do decide to freeze our products, we do not recommend freezing for an extended period of time or freezing in the can. After prolonged freezing, beans may develop a "freezer burn" taste.

The best way to store the product after opening the can is in the refrigerator in an airtight container. This preserves the beans for 2-3 days – we do not recommend refrigerating the beans in the can.

May I heat the jar of Homestyle Chili in the microwave?
No, the glass jar for chili is not microwavable and could shatter. You should pour the contents of the jar of chili into a microwavable container.

I am unable to find a particular product in my area. Can you help me locate it?
Yes, we can help. Although distribution of our Baked Bean line is national, not all stores carry all sizes and recipes. Items like Greens, Hominy, Chili Magic^® and other types of beans have limited distribution. However, all of our products are available to order by the case directly from Bush Brothers & Company. For pricing and ordering information, e-mail our Consumer Relations department (with Order Info in the subject header) at letters@bushbros.com or write to:

Bush Brothers & Company
Consumer Relations
P.O. Box 52330
Knoxville, TN 37950-2330

Is it possible to order product from you by the case?
Yes, it is possible to order any product produced by Bush Brothers & Company by the case. For pricing and ordering information, e-mail our Consumer Relations department (with Order Info in the subject header) at letters@bushbros.com or write to:

Bush Brothers & Company
Consumer Relations
P.O. Box 52330
Knoxville, TN 37950-2330

At this time we do not sell our products online.

Where can I purchase your products outside the United States?
Unfortunately, we do not currently distribute any of our products outside the United States.

Does Bush Brothers & Company make sauerkraut?
Effective February 28, 2005, Bush Brothers & Company sold their sauerkraut product line to Great Lakes Kraut Company of Bear Creek, Wisconsin. If you need information about locating this product, you may contact Great Lakes Kraut Company, P.O. Box 217, Bear Creek, WI 54922, telephone: 715/752-4901.

Have additional questions or concerns about our company? Stop by Company Q&A for the answers.

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