Frequently Asked Questions

Food integrity and consumer trust are our top priorities at Annie’s. We are troubled by the recent report of phthalates found in dairy ingredients of macaroni and cheese and take this issue seriously. While the FDA has not yet adopted a threshold for levels of phthalates in food, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has published risk assessment data which notes a Total Daily Intake of 0.05 mg/kg of body weight. Our mac and cheese products have been tested and we know any trace of phthalates are below the EFSA standard. We are also reviewing available scientific research on the issue to ensure we are informed about the most current evidence related to phthalates and food. Phthalates are chemicals that are widely used to make plastics more pliable and can be found in anything from farm equipment to conveyor belts and packaging ink. Their presence in the supply chain is a widespread and complex issue that affects products well beyond the food industry. Annie’s remains committed to sourcing high-quality organic ingredients and ensuring our food is handled in the safest way possible. We continue to work with our trusted suppliers to eliminate ortho-phthalates that may be present in the packaging materials and food processing equipment that produces the cheese and cheese powder in our macaroni and cheese. We are also working closely with our industry partners including the Organic Trade Association and The Organic Center to better understand this emerging issue and determine how Annie’s can be part of the solution.

We always list peanuts and tree nuts in the ingredient statement on the package when a product contains peanuts or tree nuts.

We recognize the needs of consumers who have allergies or sensitivities to nuts, gluten, certain spices, etc., which is why we fully disclose all ingredients on the ingredient statement on our packaging. Our packaging is the most accurate and up-to-date source for allergen and ingredient information. At Annie’s, we take every precaution to ensure that cross contamination of ingredients does not occur at any point in the process, including the farm where we source our ingredients, transportation and shipping, and production and packaging. Our manufacturing facilities have the highest standards of cleanliness and have documented and verified allergen handling policies. During production, we run our products in a particular order to reduce the risk of cross contamination, take the equipment apart and thoroughly clean it in between runs of product. We routinely test for the effectiveness of our allergen procedures.

Annie’s products are labeled for the following top eight allergens: peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, soy, wheat, crustaceans, and fish. In addition, we also label for sesame. We label for these allergens using ‘CONTAINS’ and/or ‘MAY CONTAIN’ lists located directly below the product’s ingredient list. Ingredients may vary from one package to another due to product reformulation.

We offer a wide variety of gluten-free products. Please visit our Special Diets page to filter by your dietary preference.

We offer several vegan options. Please visit our Special Diets page to filter by your dietary preference.

All of our products have a day/month/year format date. Example: 24OCT2021 = October 24, 2021
If your salad dressing or condiment is open and has been stored in the refrigerator, it is good until the Best If Used By date.

Annie’s has two lines of product: Certified Organic and Made-with-Organic. As we grow the amount of certified organic products in our portfolio, we’re also mindful of providing affordable, non-GMO options to consumers who are not able or willing to pay premium prices for our certified organic products. Whenever possible, we provide both options to allow consumers to make the choice through clear labeling on our packaging. Organic refers to the way agricultural products are grown and processed, including a system of production, processing, distribution and sales. Instituted in 2002 by the USDA, the National Organic Standards makes organic labeling consistent, clarifies different categories of organic foods, and provides assurance of product integrity. Products with at least 95% organic ingredients can use the USDA Certified Organic seal on packaging. We adhere to the following categories created by the USDA:

• 100% Organic: all content (excluding water and salt) is certified organic
• Certified Organic: at least 95% of content by weight (excluding water and salt) is organic
• Made with Organic: If at least 70% of content is organic the main product panel may display the phrase, “Made with Organic Ingredients” followed by up to three specific ingredients
• Products containing less than 70% organic content: may identify current content only on the product’s ingredient list.

Our enzymes are sourced from both animal sources and vegetarian sources.

If the ingredient statement on the package lists “enzymes,” it is likely derived from an animal source.

If the ingredient statement lists “non-animal enzymes” or “microbial enzymes,” then the enzymes are from a vegetarian source.

Annie’s uses only non-GMO ingredients. We are committed to supporting organic farming, which by definition means non-GMO, because it has positive impacts on soil health, biodiversity, water quality, animal welfare and more. Organic farming minimizes synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, while also using crop rotations, biological pest control, and other innovative approaches. We also believe consumers should have the right to know what’s in their food and believe all GMO ingredients should be labeled as such. Annie’s has been a longtime supporter of Just Label It, the national labeling campaign. Additionally, we participate in the Non-GMO Project, an independent verification group for best practices for GMO avoidance.

Yes, all Annie’s products use pasteurized milk.

Since 2011, Annie’s has been able to verify that all of our milk ingredients come from cows not treated with synthetic growth hormones.

No significant difference has been shown between milk derived from rBST-treated and non rBST-treated cows.

According to the FDA, natural flavorings are “derived from a spice, fruit or fruit juice, edible yeast, herb, bark, bud, root, leaf or similar plant material, meat, seafood, poultry, egg, milk product…whose significant function in food is flavoring rather than nutritional.” Please know that Annie’s never puts any of the top eight allergens under “natural flavors.”

Absolutely not! Our products contain no synthetic preservatives, artificial flavors or artificial colors. All our straight-from-nature ingredients are clearly marked on our labels.

Annie’s uses all-natural colors that come from plants, like purple carrots, beets, and annatto—the seed of a tree that grows in South America. You’ll never find anything synthetic in Annie’s products.

Annatto is a natural plant extract used in tropical American cultures for generations. The annatto tree grows 20 or 30 feet in height and when its seeds are stirred in water, they produce orange annatto dye, also called achiote, used to color foods such as cheese, butter, and mustard. Many cultures use achiote oils and pastes, with their mild flavor and intense color, on meat, fish, and rice.

No. These products are the same Annie’s Dipped Chewy bars you have come to love.

Yes. Please refer to the packaging carefully. Look for a package marked with a teal box with the words “Made In A Peanut Free Facility” inside and the Made In a Peanut Free Facility logo.

All of the Annie’s Dipped bars are made in a peanut free facility but not all Annie’s bars are made in a peanut free facility. Please refer to the packaging carefully. Look for a package marked with a teal box with the words “Made In A Peanut Free Facility” inside and the Made In a Peanut Free Facility logo.

Peanuts are not allowed in the facility.

Annie’s Dipped Bars have 7 grams of sugar per 26 gram bar where as the leading brand’s Dipped Granola Bars have 13 grams of sugar per 31 gram bar.

Allergens may vary by flavor, please refer to Annie’s Dipped Bar Packaging for most up to date information.

We know school requirements and policies vary so we recommend asking your child’s school directly for specific requirements. Please ask your school for specific requirements.

The box is recyclable but the individual film wrappers are not.

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Click here to access contact details for our consumer relations team, including our phone number, mailing address, and our contact form where you can submit a question or comment.

Annie Withey co-founded Annie’s Homegrown in 1989 with the idea of making a great-tasting, all-natural macaroni and cheese. General Mills purchased Annie’s in 2014 and it is part of the company’s natural and organic portfolio of brands.