Frequently Asked Questions

Both shelf stable and refrigerated cartons along with milk and juice cartons are recycled through a simple, well-established process called ‘hydrapulping.’ The high-quality fiber is used in the production of paper products such as tissue and paper towels and fine writing paper. In some cases, the plastic / foil residual is being recycled into high-end plastic lumber products.

Nearly 12 million households in 26 states in the US have the ability to recycle shelf stable packages and milk and juice cartons curbside and the numbers keep growing.

Check with your local recycling center to confirm that the container is recycled in your area. Almond Breeze® cartons can be recycled after removing plastic screw caps or plastic spout.

All Almond Breeze® varieties, except the Hint of Honey varieties, are Non-GMO Project Verified.

Yes. Shelf stable Almond Breeze® is produced via a process called ‘aseptic’. The aseptic process is a closed process and is a form of pasteurization and commercial sterilization which utilizes a very high temperature as required by federal regulations.

Refrigerated Almond Breeze® is produced via ultra-pasteurized HTST (High Temperature, Short Time) process. Ultra high heat eliminates all viable pathogens to ensure product is safe. The Ultrapasteurized product when packed in a specially designed protective packaging results in an extended shelf life (ESL).

Almonds are not made using bioengineering.

Almond Breeze® can be used in just about any recipes calling for traditional dairy milk. It can be used in baking, soups and sauces, as well as heated up for hot drinks, etc. We do not, however, recommend Almond Breeze for use in instant pudding.

No, for best quality we recommend consuming REFRIGERATED Almond Breeze® before the “Use By” date and SHELF STABLE Almond Breeze® before the “Best Before” / "Best if Used By" date, and within the recommended time frame after opening, as discussed above.

No. Freezing Almond Breeze® causes the product to separate irregularly and greatly reduces the consistency of the product upon thawing.

No, the refrigerated Almond Breeze® products are not available directly from Blue Diamond Growers.

No. Almond Breeze® is not designed for the replacement of breast milk or infant formula.

No.

All but two of our Almond Breeze® products are considered vegan and do not contain any animal products, by-products or derivatives. The exceptions are Almond Breeze® Hint of Honey and Almond Breeze® Hint of Honey Vanilla that are not considered vegan because of the honey that is used in the making of these products.

No. All Almond Breeze® products are dairy-free. They do not contain lactose or casein.

No, Almond Breeze® does not contain any egg ingredients.

No, Almond Breeze® does not contain peanuts.

It is required by law for food manufacturers that use preservatives in their foods to declare them in the ingredient statement. Blue Diamond does not use any preservatives in Almond Breeze® products.

No. All Almond Breeze® products are soy-free. They do not contain any soy ingredients or soy derivatives.

No. Our suppliers have confirmed that they do not use BPA in their packaging materials.

Blue Diamond does not add MSG (monosodium glutamate) to our products.

No. Almond Breeze® products are wheat and gluten free.

Yes, Almond Breeze® manufacturing facilities also handle coconut and cashew. All products are produced in a stringent allergen control environment to ensure that there is no cross-contamination in finished goods.

No. It does not contain dairy.

Almond Breeze® products have a mild and pleasant aroma. If your Almond Breeze® does not look, smell or taste the way it should, it may be spoiled. Signs of spoilage include:

• The carton looks abnormally bloated
• When opened, product appears to be moldy, curdled and/or slimy
• The color has changed
• The product has an off odor or smells like sour milk
• The product texture has changed and is not smooth and creamy

Almonds naturally have good fat that provides for a naturally creamy texture. Blue Diamond has developed product formulas that deliver a mild tasting almondmilk with a smooth and creamy texture. Almond Breeze® is made with carefully selected almonds and quality ingredients which when combined and processed in the proper ratios results in truly unique product.

Unopened REFRIGERATED Almond Breeze® should be stored at a temperature of 35 to 41°F up until the “Use By” date printed on top of the carton. Keep REFRIGERATED Almond Breeze® in the middle of your refrigerator to prevent possible freezing. Avoid refrigerator door storage as it tends to be the warmest part of the refrigerator. REFRIGERATED Almond Breeze is perishable and will spoil if not refrigerated.

Unopened SHELF STABLE Almond Breeze® can be stored in your pantry at room temperature up until the “Best Before” or ""Best if Use By"" date printed on top of the carton. Once opened, SHELF STABLE Almond Breeze® must be refrigerated and used within 14 days or it will spoil.

After opening, REFRIGERATED Almond Breeze® should be used within 14 days and SHELF STABLE Almond Breeze® should be used within 14 days. Because Almond Breeze® does not contain preservatives, it is susceptible to bacteral growth such as mold after being opened for a prolonged period of time at room temperature. Blue Diamond does not recommend extending the Refrigerated “Use By” or Shelf Stable “Best Before”/ "Best if Used By" time frame of Almond Breeze® and Blue Diamond will not guarantee the quality of the product beyond this recommended time frame.

Products are produced in Blue Diamond approved manufacturers across the United States.

Refrigerated Almond Breeze® is certified Kosher OU-D, meaning they are dairy free products made on heated equipment that may also be used for dairy products. Blue Diamond uses stringent equipment cleaning and testing procedures to ensure that products made on dairy equipment are dairy-free. For individuals following orthodox kosher rules, dairy-free products processed on heated equipment also used for dairy may not be eaten together with a meat product. Refrigerated Almond Breeze is safe for individuals with dairy allergies.

All Shelf Stable Almond Breeze® products are certified Kosher OU meaning that all ingredients are kosher certified containing neither meat nor dairy ingredients or derivatives.

Both Refrigerated and Shelf Stable Almond Breeze® are safe for individuals with dairy allergies.

Yes, Almond Breeze® is made in a peanut free plant.

No. Almond Breeze® cartons are not microwave safe.

Both are produced in commercially closed sterilization processes. The shelf-stable products are produced on aseptic production lines - the same as other non-dairy milk alternatives. The refrigerated product is produced in a dairy process, without using any dairy ingredients.

Both processes run at high temperatures - the aseptic, however, remains at a high temperature for a longer duration than the refrigerated product.

The packaging for the shelf-stable product is called tetra-pak and is designed for shelf stability of the unopened product for an extended period of time. The refrigerated product's packaging, on the other hand, is not constructed for shelf stability and must be refrigerated at all times. The same recipes apply for both Shelf-Stable and Refrigerated Almond Breeze® varieties.

No, the potable water used in Almond Breeze® is not fluorinated.

MCFA’s stand for Medium Chain Fatty Acids, a type of fat in coconut.

Blue Diamond uses “Dutch Process” cocoa in Almond Breeze® Chocolate products. The term “Dutch Process” refers to cocoa beans that have been treated with alkali to neutralize acidity, improve color and enhance flavor.

Refrigerated Almond Breeze® is packaged in either gable-top 64 fl oz cartons with a white plastic pour spout fitment, or screw-capped HDPE plastic 96/10 fl oz jug/bottle. All container materials are made from FDA approved virgin materials and an oxygen barrier designed for extended shelf life applications.

Shelf-stable Almond Breeze® cartons are a laminate of three materials: high-quality paperboard, polyethylene, and aluminum. Paperboard provides stiffness and strength to the product. Polyethylene provides a tight seal for the innermost and outermost layer of the carton. Aluminum forms a barrier against oxygen and light which helps preserve product without refrigeration and/or added preservatives. There is no leaching of aluminum or aluminum components through the plastic layer.

We use coconut cream to make Almond Breeze® blends. Coconut Cream is the emulsion of water and coconut oil extracted from the coconut meat by physical pressing. The coconut cream is physically pressed from the coconut meat without chemicals.

The fat found in Almond Breeze® comes primarily from the almond oil naturally occurring in almonds with small traceable amounts from vegetable oil found in the vitamin and sunflower lecithin ingredients. Our Almondmilk Coconutmilk Blend and Almondmilk Cashewmilk Blend varieties also contain fat from the cashews and coconut cream.

The almonds are grown in orchards by our grower co-operative members in California.

Indonesia and the Philippines.

Shaking Almond Breeze® before serving helps to maintain product consistency. Over time, ingredients in Almond Breeze®such as cocoa powder and calcium may settle to the bottom of the carton.

Refrigerated Almond Breeze® is made using sophisticated equipment in an Ultra Pasteurization process utilizing very high heat for a very short period of time. Ultrapasteurized product, when packed in a specially designed protective carton, results in an extended shelf life.