We do not make our products using any wheat, wheat gluten, rye, oat, barley or malt ingredients. However, at this time we do not conduct the tests that would allow us to label our products as gluten-free. Anyone with severe allergies should always consult a doctor before introducing a new food.

We recommend checking with your pediatrician about the best diet for your child.

All Silk soy beverages including Silk for Coffee are completely dairy-free, lactose-free and casein-free, and can be suitable for people with dairy allergies. A dairy allergy is an extreme sensitivity to the proteins in dairy products and should not be confused with lactose intolerance. Dairy allergies can range from mild indigestion to anaphylaxis, which is an acute reaction. Lactose intolerance is difficulty digesting the naturally occurring sugar in milk, which can cause discomfort. We have extensive testing protocols in place at our facilities to detect dairy components and prevent ingredient commingling. Anyone with severe allergies should always consult a doctor before introducing a new food. Soy is also a known allergen so please check with your healthcare practitioner if you are concerned that you may be allergic to soy.

Absolutely, because all Silk products are naturally lactose-free.

We do not make our products using any nuts. Silk soy beverages may be processed on equipment that also makes our Silk True Almond almond beverage and our Silk Pure Coconut coconut beverage in the United States. For this reason we have included a note on the label that our soy beverages may contain almond and/or coconut. Consumer safety is our highest priority. Complete allergen cleanup procedures are standard in our facilities. We have testing protocols in place and we utilize hardware and software to prevent ingredient commingling. Anyone with severe allergies should always consult a doctor before introducing a new food.

If you are pregnant or nursing, it is best to discuss any food and nutrition questions with your doctor.

No, there are no replacements for breast milk or infant formula.

For more information on food sensitivities and allergies, visit the following websites:

Canadian Celiac Association
[http://www.celiac.ca/]
Health Canada
[http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/index-eng.php]
Canadian Health Network
[http://www.ccohs.ca/chn/]
Anaphylaxis Canada
[http://www.anaphylaxis.ca/]
Lactose.co.uk
[http://www.lactose.co.uk/]
SoyNutrition.com
[http://www.soynutrition.com/]

We do not recommend freezing our products. Although freezing does not affect the safety or nutritional value of the product, Silk soy beverages change in texture dramatically when thawed. Silk does perform well in frozen-dessert recipes.

Here are some tips for keeping your Silk soy beverage fresher, longer:

• "Don't drink straight out of the carton!" Just like Mom always said, when you drink out of the carton, bacteria from your mouth can get into the beverage, which increases the risk of spoilage.
• Make note of the day you open your Silk—you can mark it right on the carton. Unopened Silk stays fresh until the date printed on top. Once opened, it will stay fresh for seven to ten days if kept refrigerated. While Silk should not spoil if left out for an hour or two, those two unrefrigerated hours do shorten its life.
• Keep Silk in the middle of your refrigerator. Storing it in the door of the fridge exposes it to wide temperature fluctuations which could hasten spoilage.

We take great care to provide you with a consistent, uniform product. If your Silk beverage doesn't look, smell or taste the way it usually does, it may be spoiled. Fresh Silk does not have a strong odour. Signs of spoilage include:

• The package looks abnormally bloated.
• When poured, the soy beverage appears to have thickened.
• The colour has changed: chocolate turns lighter and vanilla may look darker.
• It smells sour.
• It has a bitter, metallic, earthy, grassy or extremely sweet taste.

Unopened refrigerated Silk soy beverages will stay fresh in your refrigerator until the date stamped on the top of the carton. This is not an expiration date, but rather an “open by” date, which means we guarantee the quality and freshness of Silk soy beverage for seven to ten days when opened on or before the date stamped. It is not unusual for our soy beverage to remain good past the ten-day mark; however, we only guarantee that it will be good for seven to ten days.

Shelf-stable (also known as aseptic) Silk soy beverage does not need to be refrigerated until it has been opened. This makes it a good choice for stocking your pantry or taking on a trip. It will stay fresh unopened until the date stamped on the carton, usually up to eight months from the date of purchase. When the time is right, just chill and enjoy. Once opened, shelf-stable Silk ages just like our refrigerated version—it must remain refrigerated to stay fresh for seven to ten days.

Each municipality has different recycling rules so please check with your local government and/or recycling centre for details. We are committed to using the most environmentally friendly and cost-effective packaging available for our products and we are always looking to decrease the overall environmental waste factor of our containers.

All Silk soy beverages in all flavours are certified Kosher OU-D. This means that our dairy-free products may have been processed on equipment also used for dairy. It does not indicate the presence of dairy components in the products. We have extensive protocols in place at our facilities to detect dairy components and prevent ingredient commingling.

Several Silk varieties are certified organic and carry the “Canada Organic” seal: 1.89L Silk Original, 1.89L Silk Vanilla, and 1.89L Silk Unsweetened. The 1.89L Silk Chocolate is made with organic soybeans and contains 86% organic ingredients. All our other soy products are made with natural, non-genetically engineered ingredients including soybeans sourced from North America. Our certified organic products are clearly labeled either “organic” or “86% organic ingredients.”

Yes. All of our beverages are natural. Many are certified organic and labeled as such. We produce all Silk beverages without artificial ingredients, beginning with whole, all natural soybeans that have not been genetically engineered. Then we blend in filtered water, vitamins and minerals, natural flavourings and a touch of natural sweetener. (Silk Unsweetened contains no added sugar or sweeteners.)

Yes, we use ultra-high temperature (UHT) pasteurization to ensure that all our products are free of harmful microorganisms.

There are no animal products, by-products or derivatives in our products, making them completely vegan. All vitamins used to fortify Silk products are vegetable-derived. The source for the calcium in Silk beverages is natural limestone.

Silk Chocolate is the only flavour with caffeine. It contains 3.6 mg of caffeine per 250 mL serving. All other flavours are caffeine-free. As a comparison, one cup of regular coffee typically contains 115 to 175 mg of caffeine and one cup of decaffeinated coffee typically contains 3 to 4 mg.

We use soybeans grown in North America that are produced without genetic engineering or gene manipulation. Silk soy beverages are verified by the Non-GMO Project, the first system designed to test whether a product’s ingredients have met defined standards for the absence of genetically modified organisms, or GMOs.

We use all natural evaporated cane juice, which is produced by pressing the juice out of sugar cane stalks. The juice is evaporated to form sugar crystals. These crystals are then milled once to give them an even texture. Evaporated cane juice requires less processing than refined sugar. (Silk Unsweetened contains no sweeteners or added sugars.)

The cocoa beans used in Silk Chocolate are treated with alkali for colour and flavour, a process called "Dutching." Dutch-processed cocoa is known for its dark, rich hue and mellow taste. There is no dairy involved in Dutch processing.

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have been created using the gene-splicing techniques of biotechnology (also called genetic engineering, or GE). This relatively new science allows DNA from one species to be injected into another species in a laboratory, creating combinations that do not occur in nature or through traditional crossbreeding methods.

The Non-GMO Project is a nonprofit collaboration of stakeholders in the natural products industry­—including manufacturers, retailers, farmers and consumers—dedicated to the shared mission of ensuring the availability of non-GMO food and beverage choices.

We use palm oil because it enhances the smooth and creamy texture of Silk for Coffee. Palm oil's impact on blood cholesterol levels compares favourably to corn oil and olive oil.^1,2,3 Further, our suppliers belong to the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil, whose objective is promoting the growth and use of sustainable palm oil products through credible global standards and the engagement of stakeholders.

¹Choudhury N., Tan L., Truswell A.S. Comparison of palmolein and olive oil: effects on plasma lipids and vitamin E in young adults. Am J of Clin Nutr 1995; 61: 1043-1051.
²Sundram K., Hornstra G., von Houwelingen A.C., Kester A.D. Replacement of dietary fat with palm oil: effect on human serum lipids, lipoprotein and apolipoproteins. Br J Nutr 1992; 68: 677-692.
³Ng T.K., Hayes K.C., DeWitt G.F., Jegathesan M., Satgunasingam N., Ong A.S., Tan D. Dietary palmitic and oleic acids exert similar effects on serum cholesterol and lipoprotein profiles in normocholesterolemic men and women. JACN 1992; 11: 383-390.

Yes! Soy is a natural source of the omega-3 essential fatty acid, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). Omega-3 refers to a category of essential fatty acids that includes ALA and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), among others. Omega-3 fatty acids have been studied for their role in growth and overall health. Your body cannot make essential fatty acids so it is important to include them in your diet. Common sources of ALA include soybeans, flaxseed and walnuts. All Silk soy beverages contain naturally occurring ALA.

We don't have a fat-free soy beverage at this time but we do offer Silk Light in Original and Vanilla for those who prefer a lower fat product. Silk Light Original contains 2 grams of total fat per 250 mL serving and Vanilla has 1.5 grams of total fat. Neither has saturated fat.

Silk soy beverages are a refreshing, delicious and versatile choice in support of a healthy lifestyle.

• We’ve fortified our soy beverages so they contain as much calcium as a serving as dairy milk.
• Our products contain as much vitamin D as dairy milk, and are an excellent source of B12.
• Silk soy beverages provide 15 essential nutrients, including protein, riboflavin, iron, magnesium and phosphorus.
• Silk soy beverages provide 6-7 grams of wholesome soy protein per serving.
• Our products are low in saturated fat.
• Our soy beverages are cholesterol-free, dairy-free, lactose-free, casein-free and completely vegan.

DHA is an omega-3 fatty acid. It has been studied for its role in supporting the normal development of the tissues in the brain, nervous system and eyes. Health care professionals often recommend that people increase DHA consumption.<sup>1,2

1</sup>Health and Welfare Canada. Nutrition recommendations: the report of the scientific review committee. 1990 Minister of Supply and Services, Ottawa, Canada.
²Simopoulos, A. P., Leaf, A. & Salem, N., Jr. Workshop on the essentiality of and recommended dietary intakes for omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. J Am Coll Nutr 1999; 18: 487-489.

The protein comes from the soybeans. Soy protein is a complete protein, meaning it contains all the essential amino acids your body needs. Soy protein has also been studied for its role in helping to promote heart health.<sup>1,2

1</sup>Anderson JW, Johnstone BM, and Cook-Newell ME. Meta-analysis of the effects of soy protein on serum-lipids. NE J Med 1995; 5: 276-82.
²He J, Gu D, Wu X, Chen J, Duan X, Whelton PK. Effect of soy bean protein on blood pressure: a randomized, controlled trial. Ann Intern Med 2005; 143: 1-9.

Health Canada requires soy beverages to be fortified with certain vitamins and minerals, including calcium. Calcium carbonate is a naturally occurring mineral found in limestone. We use this vegan source of calcium carbonate in our products because it does not react with other Silk soy beverage ingredients and it can be easily absorbed. One 250 mL serving of Silk soy beverage contains 30% of the recommended daily value of calcium, equivalent to the amount of calcium found in a glass of typical dairy milk. A healthy diet with adequate calcium and vitamin D, combined with regular physical activity, helps to achieve strong bones and reduces the risk of osteoporosis.