Frequently Asked Questions

Shelf-Life/ Storage

What is the shelf life of Del Monte^® canned products?

As a guideline, Del Monte^® canned products have a shelf-life of about 2 to 3 years from the date of production. This assumes the can isn't dented or damaged, and the product is stored under normal conditions. After that time, the color, flavor and texture of the food may begin to deteriorate, although the contents would still be safe. We do recommend that any swollen or leaking containers be discarded, regardless of their age.

The majority of our canned products contain a 'Best By' date on the can. If you have a Del Monte^® canned product without a "Best By" date, or you have further questions, please don't hesitate to contact us.

What is the shelf life of a Del Monte^® product after it is opened?

After opening, canned foods should retain their original quality for at least 2 to 3 days when refrigerated and sealed in a plastic or glass container. Del Monte^® Ketchup, Chili Sauce, Seafood Cocktail Sauce, Orchard Select^® Products, and SunFresh^® products will retain their quality for 1 to 2 weeks when stored in the refrigerator.

Product Information

The following products are either Gluten Free or Naturally Gluten Free*

To the best of our knowledge, the following products do not contain wheat, oats, rye or barley/malt ingredients. It is always best to read the ingredient statement and all label claims for the most current information relating to Gluten. This list may not be complete due to formula changes and new product introductions.

 

Del Monte Branded Products

• Canned/Jarred Fruits
• Fruit Snack Cups (Metal and Plastic)
• Canned Vegetables
• Tomatoes & Tomato Products
• Fruit Chillers (Cups and Freeze & Eat Tubes)

College Inn Broth

• Garden Vegetable
• Organic Beef Broth
• White Wine & Herb Culinary Broth
• No MSG Light & Fat Free Low Sodium Chicken Broth

Contadina

• All Crushed Tomatoes
• All Diced Tomatoes
• All Stewed Tomatoes
• Whole Tomatoes
• Tomato Puree
• Tomato Paste (except Italian Tomato Paste with Italian Seasonings; this product contains gluten)
• All Tomato Sauces
• All Pizza Sauces and Pizza Squeeze
• Sweet & Sour Sauce

S&W Fine Foods

• All Canned/Jarred Fruits
• All Canned Vegetables
• Pickled Beets
• All Tomatoes

* "Naturally Gluten Free" - Products made with ingredients that do not inherently contain gluten
"Gluten Free" - Products formulated with ingredients that have been verified as NOT containing any sources of gluten.

Coupons/Special Offers

Where can I get coupons for Del Monte^® products?

To find out about Del Monte coupon offers, go to http://delmonte.com/promotions and sign up to be notified about new coupons and promotions for our consumer products as they become available. Once you’ve registered, you can use the same email address and password to login to any Del Monte website. So if you’re a pet owner, please visit our pet products websites, including Meow Mix^®, Kibbles 'n Bits^®, Milk-Bone^®, 9Lives^®, Milo’s Kitchen^®, Pup-Peroni^®, and Nature’s Recipe^® and sign up on these sites so you’ll be one of the first to learn about future offers for these popular brands.

In addition to our online offers, throughout the year we feature coupons and promotion offers for Del Monte products in magazines and the Sunday newspaper supplement section, so don't forget to watch for these special offers!

More Product Information

What is your Modified Food Starch derived from?

Our Modified Food Starch is derived from corn. It is gluten-free.

Will the common allergens be listed in the ingredient statement on your products?

Yes! In accordance with the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004, if one of our products contains any of the eight major allergens (milk, eggs, fish, Crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, and soybeans), it will be clearly labeled. All ingredient statements indicate the potential for an allergen in parentheses immediately behind the potential allergenic ingredient. In addition, we have specific policies in each of our plants to avoid the potential for cross contamination between products.

We encourage consumers to check the label, specifically the ingredient statement; this will identify the potential allergens in a product.

Is canned food fully cooked?

Yes, canned products are fully cooked.

My recipe calls for a Number 303 or Number 2 can. What size is that?

Some older recipes refer to can sizes by number instead of weight. See the chart below to find out what size can your recipe calls for.

Del Monte^® No Salt Added Cut Green Beans
Del Monte^® No Salt Added French Style Green Beans
Del Monte^® No Salt Added Mixed Vegetables
Del Monte^® No Salt Added Whole Kernel Corn
Del Monte^® No Salt Added Sweet Corn Cream Style
Del Monte^® No Salt Added Whole Leaf Spinach
Del Monte^® No Salt Added Sweet Peas
Del Monte^® No Salt Added Diced Tomatoes
Del Monte^® No Salt Added Stewed Tomatoes
Del Monte^® No Salt Added Tomato Sauce

We are also proud to offer several varieties of reduced - sodium vegetable products:

Del Monte^® 50% Less Salt Whole Kernel Corn
Del Monte^® 50% Less Salt Cut Green Beans
Del Monte^® 50% Less Salt Sweet Peas

Do you offer any Organic products?

Yes. Del Monte Foods produces several USDA certified Organic tomatoes and tomato products under our Del Monte^®, S&W^® and Contadina^® labels, as well as College Inn^® Organic Chicken and Beef Broths.

Where can I find out more about how Del Monte products fit into a healthy, nourishing diet?

Visit the Living a Healthy Lifestyle section of our website for information about nutrition, recipes and tips that the whole family can enjoy!

I have a question about Del Monte Pickles, Del Monte Dried Fruit, Del Monte Fresh Produce, or Del Monte products purchased in Canada. Can you answer my question?

No. Del Monte Foods produces processed fruits, vegetables and tomatoes for distribution in the United States and South America. Del Monte^® brand dried fruit, fresh fruit and foods sold in Canada, Europe, Mexico, Central America and Asia are produced under license by companies that are otherwise unaffiliated with Del Monte Foods.

You may contact these companies via their websites:

For Del Monte^® Pickles: www.gedneypickle.com

For Del Monte^® Dried Fruit: www.delmontedriedfruit.com

For Fresh Del Monte^® Produce: www.freshdelmonte.com

For Del Monte^® Brand beverages sold in Canada: www.kraftcanada.com

For Del Monte^® Brand canned fruits and vegetables sold in Canada: DelmonteCanada.com

Availability

What if I cannot find my favorite Del Monte Foods product in my store?

Del Monte products are available in most stores nationwide. Because regional preferences vary, the product you are looking for may not be available in your area. If you can't find your favorite Del Monte product, you may want to talk with your store management to let them know of your interest in purchasing it, or check with other stores in your area.

Can I buy products directly from you?

At this time, we're unable to sell Del Monte products directly to consumers.

Pet Products Specific

Where can I buy your Pet Products? Can I purchase directly from you?

The majority of our products are sold at retail and club stores, as well as at Pet Specialty stores. Additionally, many of our pet products are available on our "e-tail" partner websites, including PetCo.com, PetSmart.com, Petfooddirect.com and PetSuppliesPlus.com.

Does canned/wet pet food need to be refrigerated after it's opened?

After it's opened, canned pet food should be refrigerated, just as with any meat product. If covered and refrigerated, the food should stay fresh for 2-3 days. You may want to allow the food to return to room temperature before serving it to your pet.

One way to speed up the warming process is to add in a small amount of warm water, or microwave the food on a microwaveable plate for about 5 seconds at a time until it is the correct temperature.

My dog is unable to digest grains. Do you make any pet foods that don't have grain ingredients?

Yes we do! Nature's Recipe^® brand now offers Grain Free Recipes designed to be easily digestible, giving your dog essential vitamins and minerals to help provide complete nourishment. Available in both Dry and Wet varieties, you can find Nature's Recipe^® pet food in Pet Specialty stores. Visit www.naturesrecipe.com for more information.

Consumer Contact Information

To contact Del Monte Foods Consumer Affairs:

• Complete and submit our online Contact Us Form
• Call us at 1-800-543-3090, Mon Fri 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Eastern Time
• Write to us at: Del Monte Foods Consumer Affairs, P.O. Box 80, Pittsburgh PA 15230-0080.