Question 1

Why should I choose Dunya Harvest products?

Accepted Answer

Since 1974, we have been bringing you the foods of the world. We are a Canadian owned family business and there is nothing more important to us than providing high-quality products that are natural and healthy and make a positive impact on your life.
We pride ourselves on the network of farmers, growers, producers, and suppliers we have built relationships with from all over the world. We also process and pack everything in house, from seed to fork, to ensure quality and freshness. Our newest brand, Dunya Harvest, is an affordable mainstream option for healthy eaters.

Question 2

How do I properly store my Dunya Harvest products so they stay fresh?

Accepted Answer

Please watch our informative video to learn the best practices for storing pantry staples.

Question 3

Can I purchase products from you directly?

Accepted Answer

At this time, we do not sell directly to consumers. Please take a look at our store locator to find online and brick and mortar stores where you can find our products across North America.

Question 4

Where do you buy your raw materials from? Do you buy Canadian?

Accepted Answer

While we prefer working with Canadian and US farmers first, that is not always possible or smart. For example, the best quality Quinoa is found in Peru and Basmati rice is only found in India. 
 
We source from our trusted vendors all over the world, some of whom we have worked with for over 40 years, based on availability, quality and pricing.  We visit farms and establish relationships with all our suppliers and buy direct as much as possible. Our mission is to provide the best quality products at affordable prices.

Question 5

How do I know the products are safe?

Accepted Answer

We test every product that comes into our warehouses with in-house testing to ensure a superior product. We also periodically conduct product testing through third party laboratories like Silliker, Merieux NutriSciences for independent verification and validation of our product quality and food safety. We also retain a sample from each production batch for the entire shelf life of the product as a way to evaluate its behaviour in the market.
Additionally, we conduct regular staff training on allergen handling, receiving, storage and processing and we have a large QA department dedicated to each product line.
We adhere to the strictest Canadian Food Inspection Agency guidelines as laid out by the Safe Food for Canadian Regulations.

Question 6

How do I know which country your products are sourced from?

Accepted Answer

You will always find the country of origin on all our labels, as per Canadian and US food regulations. Occasionally, you will see “Made in Canada from Domestic & Imported Ingredients.” We write this because the products contained in the blend are from different countries. You can always send us an email if you’d like to know where a specific crop is from!
We are fully committed to transparency and unlike some companies, we do not outsource any part of the process. We source, manufacture, produce, can, package and transport our products. Further, we use in-house testing facilities and external laboratories to test our products. We are involved from seed to fork, so we know exactly what is happening every single step of the way.

Question 7

Are all of DH’s products organic?

Accepted Answer

We like to offer our customers a choice, therefore 60% of our foods are certified organic and the remaining items are conventional.

Question 8

Are your products allergen-free?

Accepted Answer

Please look at products on our web page for information on a specific product’s allergens. Our canned beans are all free of allergens with the exception of green lentils.*
We ensure allergen preventive control management is implemented at all stages of our production steps, by following established and periodically verified procedures to meets our customers and regulatory requirements. Our products are tested before entering our facilities and within our facilities, we continue to adhere to the strictest standards.
*Our lentils are NOT certified gluten-free even though lentils are naturally gluten-free and test within the accepted parameters of gluten-free. However, because we know these lentils come from farms where there is also wheat and the possibility of cross-contact contamination is high, that’s why they are not certified  as gluten-free.

Question 9

Are your products non-GMO?

Accepted Answer

Our products are non-GMO. We are independently certified by the Non-GMO Project and NSF.

Question 10

Are you Kosher certified?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Our entire operation and our entire range of products are Kosher certified, we are independently certified by Kashruth Council of Canada.

Question 11

What certifications does Dunya Harvest have?

Accepted Answer

In addition to being processed in facilities that are CFIA licensed, we are also independently certified by Pro-cert for organic items, Non-GMO certified and Gluten-Free certified. More information about the certification system can be found on their website.

Question 12

How can I find and read the expiry of your product?

Accepted Answer

To find the expiry date, look for the date code. Our date codes are located on the back of our dry goods and the top (or bottom) of our cans.
The format is as follows:
BEST BEFORE / MEUILLER AVANT YYYY MM DDAD
For example, BEST BEFORE / MEUILLER AVANT 2019 OC 14AD means the product is best used by October 14, 2019. The key to finding the date is to look for BB/MA as that will start the best before date.

Question 13

Do you have any coupons or free stuff?

Accepted Answer

Currently, we do not have any coupons. We do our best to keep our everyday price as low as possible so our customers can have accessible, healthy food all the time.

Question 14

Is your packaging recyclable?

Accepted Answer

90% of the packaging at Shah Trading Company is recyclable and we continue to look for affordable alternatives for the items that are not.
When we first made the 10% non-recyclable bags over 6 years ago, we kept affordability in mind when we created the packaging because we believe that every Canadian should have access to affordable healthy food. However, we understand the growing importance environmental responsibility and so we continue to look for affordable alternatives.

Question 15

Why does the Nutrition Facts table say there is sugar but the ingredients list does not?

Accepted Answer

Sugars occur naturally in a wide variety of foods such as chickpeas, red lentils, and even quinoa. We do not add sugar to these items so we do not add it to the ingredients list.

Question 16

Why do canned goods last so long and are they safe?

Accepted Answer

Yes, they are safe. Our canned bean products are processed from dry beans that have been inspected for quality. The can is made from stainless steel to ensure a long life. These cans are hermetically sealed – meaning nothing can get in or out. Additionally, the beans are cooked at high temperatures (245F Degrees) for long time which means that they are sterilized. Watch our video on the entire farm to table process for our canned beans for more information.

We also periodically conduct product testing through third party laboratories like Silliker, Merieux NutriSciences for independent verification and validation of our product quality and food safety. We also retain a sample from each production batch for the entire shelf life of the product as a way to evaluate its behaviour in the market.
Additionally, we conduct regular staff training on allergen handling, receiving, storage and processing and we have a large QA department dedicated to each product line.
We adhere to the strictest Canadian Food Inspection Agency guidelines as laid out by the Safe Food for Canadian Regulations.

Question 17

Are the linings of the cans BPA Free? What about other chemicals in the lining?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Our linings are non-BPA along with the absence of many other chemicals of concern:
 
ADA - Azodicarbonamide    NO
Artificial Flavours    NO
Artificial Sweeteners    NO
BHA - Butylated hydroxyanisole; a mixture of 2-tertiarybutyl-4- hydroxyanisole and 3-tertiarybutyl-4- hydroxyanisole    NO
BHT - Butylated hydroxytoluene; 3,5-ditertiarybutyl-4-hydroxytoluene)    NO
Biocides (pesticides, herbicides, insecticides)    NO
BPA Bisphenol A and certain epoxy derivates    NO
Brominated Vegetable Oil    NO
Formaldehyde    NO
Genetically Modified Organisms ( GMO)    NO
Gluten    NO
Hydrogenated Oils    NO
Melamine    NO
Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)    NO
Polydextrose    NO
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)    NO
Sugar Alcohols    NO
Synthetic Colours    NO
TBHQ - Tertiary Butyl Hydroquinone; tert-Butylhydroquinone    NO

Question 18

How are canned beans cooked?

Accepted Answer

Our canned bean products are processed from dry beans that have been inspected for quality. Dried beans are pre-soaked in potable water to rehydrate them. Once the beans are hydrated, we fill them into empty cleaned cans, add water, and pressure cook them in retorts (cooking vessels under high pressure and temperature) following a specific temperature and time protocol that sterilizes and cooks the beans at the same time. This process also reduces lectins. Once retorted, the beans will be ready for use.

Question 19

Why do your products say “sort and rinse”?

Accepted Answer

Dry grains, beans, peas, and lentils are natural agricultural foods that come straight from the farm, as seen in the video below.
 
We employ several different stages of cleaning and rinsing but we recommend as the last step before consumption, the consumer stores the product in a cool, dry place and inspects before use. Sort any unwanted materials and rinse well before cooking.

Question 20

Why are the lentils so mushy?

Accepted Answer

Some lentils, when cooked, are naturally softer. Red and yellow lentils are mainly used for dalls and soups, so will cook to a much softer consistency than green or brown lentils. Our Autumn and Rainbow Blend lentils are meant to have the same consistency as dall. View some recipes for different ways to cook different lentils.

Question 21

Why are there blemishes on my chickpeas?

Accepted Answer

We do sometimes see blemishes on chickpeas. As they are natural agricultural products, there are sometimes environmental factors at play. If there are no holes in the chickpeas themselves and it’s a surface blemish, it happens during the growth cycle of the chickpea. Chickpeas grow in pods at the farm and occasionally, if a pod happens to open up and be facing the sun, the spot exposed to the sun becomes darker than the rest of the chickpea. It is a variation of normal and not anything to be worried about.

Question 22

Help! My product has bugs/stones, why? What do I do?"

Accepted Answer

We are very sorry to hear you’ve had an unfortunate experience with our products. Please send us an email with the date code and a picture of the offending product and we will open up an investigation.
But why did this happen? Please remember, our products are natural agricultural products that come straight from the farm (organic products are not treated with any pesticides to prevent infestation). In any event, bugs/larva/stones are inherent to natural products. If the conditions are right (or wrong), the larva within the products will turn into bugs.
Our job is to make the product as clean and safe to consume as possible. We apply several cleaning techniques to prevent infestation and remove any unwanted foreign material. Please watch this informative video for the whole farm to table process for chickpeas to get an understanding of the cleaning process we employ to prevent infestation.

In order to prevent infestation and remove any unwanted foreign material, the consumer must also make sure to store, sort, and rinse the products correctly (this is like keeping lettuce crisp and clean before use). We’ve created a handy video to help you learn how to store pantry staples.

Frequently asked questions