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What does the Country of Origin Statement mean?
Country of Origin statements on retail packaging are intended to inform consumers about the origin of the food (or other goods) that they buy.
The Country of Origin labelling laws are currently under review with a change expected in mid-2016.
The current Country of Origin statements have slightly different meanings:
· The product is manufactured or processed (not just packed) in Australia and
· More than 50% of the cost of manufacture are generated in Australia (including the labour and fixed factory costs like electricity and water)
Made in Australia from Imported and Local Ingredients
· Imported materials contribute a significant proportion of the manufacturing costs
Product of Australia
· Almost all of the production processes must occur in Australia and
· All significant ingredients used to make the product are of Australian origin
For more detail, please refer to the ACCC website:
http://www.accc.gov.au/consumers/groceries/country-of-origin
Where does imported pork come from?
As an Australian manufacturer of meat products we purchase the largest volume of Australian pork, however, we also purchase some imported pork from the European Union (EU), Canada and the USA to supplement the production requirements that Australian farms cannot meet and to also maintain our products at an affordable price for our customers. We would like to assure you that the pork meat is imported under very strict quarantine legislation governed by the Department of Agriculture which include very rigorous regulations and procedures for it to be in used in the manufacture of products.
We do manufacture certain lines of products using specifically Australian pork.
· All products containing bones, for example, Bone in Leg Ham, Semi Boneless Ezy Cut Ham, Semi Boneless Picnic Ham.
· All our fermented products (Salami) and dry cured products (Prosciutto) are also manufactured using Australian pork.
The labelling of our products is in accordance with the current FSANZ (Food Standards Australia New Zealand) legislation. All the required information is stated on the product packaging.
Why is nitrite added to meat products?
Nitrites and nitrates ingredients that are added to processed meats during the manufacturing process.
Nitrites and nitrites have multiple effects:
· Preservative effect
· Flavour contribution
· Colour – change the meat to a stable pink colour characteristic of ham or bacon.
Some pork products do not have nitrite eg fresh sausages and roast pork.
If nitrites were not used, the pork would have the colour and flavour of roast pork.
The level of nitrite that can be added to meat products is limited by Australian food law.
Where can I buy specific products?
Please contact us here to know about a specific product ranging: http://www.hans.com.au/contact-us/
Where can I find detailed product nutritional information?
You can find NIPs (Nutritional Information Panel) on our packaging or on the product page on this website. If you need any help, contact us here http://www.hans.com.au/contact-us/
Are Hans products gluten free?
All Hans products available in retail packs and delicatessens are gluten free.
All ingredients selected and purchased for the manufacturing sites are gluten free. In addition, we require that:
· Ingredients containing dextrose or maltodextrin are derived from sources that do not contain gluten and
· Alternatives are found for ingredients that can be sourced from cereals that contain gluten.
We do periodic validation of our gluten free policy with periodic scheduled gluten testing of products, but most of the control we have is through exclusion of ingredients containing gluten from the manufacturing sites.
Where can I find product allergen information?
You can find that information on the product packaging and product page on the website
Where can I find product storage information?
What's the best way to remove the casing from a salami?
As the product relies on a drying process, there will be a certain amount of variation in the extent of adhesion of the casing to the product. If difficulty is experienced in removing the casing, it is suggested the vacuum packaging is opened and the salami left in the fridge for two or three days prior to removing the casing or the product is placed into the freezer for one or two hours before peeling.
Are Hans products Halal?
why do some products not have meat percentage in the ingredient list?
Some meat products are exempt from the legal requirement to declare meat percentage.
Products that undergo significant weight loss (drying) during manufacture are among those that are not required to declare meat percentage.
The best example of this is our salamis. Salamis are made with no added water and contain less than 10% non-meat ingredients like spices and salt. During the manufacturing process the salami is dried for shelf stability, resulting in a theoretical meat percentage greater than 100% because the weight of fresh meat used to produce the salami is actually more than the weight of the end product. A batch of salami may use 90kg of fresh meat to produce 70kg of finished product.
For more detail, please refer to the Food Standards Code Standard 1.2.10:
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Series/F2015L00398
Are the packaging materials recyclable?
For food safety reasons all food products must be packaged in materials that provide adequate protection against contamination as well as maintain the integrity of the pack vacuum or gas flushed environment over the product shelf life through distribution, display for sale and storage at home after purchase. These requirements necessitate the use of multi-laminate barrier packaging materials, which cannot currently be recycled in Australia.
The company is committed to regular evaluation of the environmental impact of product packaging and will continue to work with our approved packaging suppliers with respect to developments in the technology and suitability of available packaging materials.
All of the cartons used to distribute and display our products are 100% recyclable and contain a high proportion of recycled cardboard.
Private: Health and Nutrition