HEINZ^® Beans - Q&A's

Q. What is the best way to store my canned beans?

A. For optimal freshness and quality, it is best to store cans of HEINZ^® beans in a cool, dry place.

Q. How long can I keep my cans of beans?

A. HEINZ^® canned beans and pasta products have a shelf life of approximately two years from their date of production.

Q. How can I tell if my beans are still good?

A. There is a stamped production code made up of letters and numbers on every can of HEINZ^® beans that represents when the can was made.

Q. Where can I find the production code?

A. Every can of HEINZ^® beans bears a production code of letters and numbers stamped on the lid of the can itself, not on the label.

Q. How do I read the production code?

A. As an example, a can of HEINZ^® Original Beans in Tomato Sauce might have a code that
reads LBV 1229 08:32.

The letter ’L’ indicates this can of beans was filled in our Leamington, Ontario factory.

The next two letters indicate the variety code, in this case ’BV’ is ’original beans in tomato sauce’.

The first three numbers (122) represents the 122nd day of the year, or May 1st.

The fourth number (9) represents 2009, the year of production.

The final four numbers (08:32) indicate the hour, in 24-hour time, or 8:32 a.m.

This can was made on May 1st, 2009. The recommended best before date for this can is therefore May 1st, 2011.

Q. Once opened, how long can I keep leftover beans?

A. Any unused HEINZ^® beans should be transferred into an air-tight storage container and refrigerated immediately, and used within 48 hours.

Q. Can my leftover beans be frozen?

A. Yes. For optimum quality, it is best to transfer any leftover product into a clean, air-tight container designed for freezing foods and kept frozen for no longer than one month. Beans should be reheated from frozen, without thawing.

Q. Do any of the HEINZ^® bean varieties contain gluten?

A. All of the HEINZ^® canned beans produced and distributed in Canada are gluten-free, however recipe formulations may change. Be sure to read the nutritional panel on the label for a complete ingredient listing.