- NEW! Do your aseptically packaged products require refrigeration?
- NEW! What are the benefits of aseptic packaging to the consumer?
- NEW! What are the environmental attributes of the aseptic package?
- NEW! What is aseptic packaging?
- NEW! Can I order your products directly from you?
- NEW! Where are Soy Dream and Rice Dream products sold?
- NEW! I have special dietary needs because of allergic reactions to many common ingredients in foods. Where can I find information about which Dream Products I can use?
- NEW! How long are the Imagine products good after opening?
Do your aseptically packaged products require refrigeration?
No, they are shelf stable for up to a year. You’ll find a "best before" date clearly stamped on all of our products. Once the package is opened, it requires refrigeration. Our aseptic products will stay fresh for 7-10 days refrigerated.
What are the benefits of aseptic packaging to the consumer?
Since they were introduced in the early 1980s, aseptic packages have become very popular in the U.S., especially in households with children. The special aseptic process yields a shelf-stable product, which can be kept in a cupboard for extended periods of time without preservatives or refrigeration. In describing their preference, American consumers often point to the safety, nutrition, and ease of handling of the aseptic package. Others prefer the aseptic carton because it is shatter-proof and tamper-evident.
What are the environmental attributes of the aseptic package?
According to a national packaging study conducted by the Boston-based Tellus Institute for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) during the '90s, the aseptic package has one of the lowest environmental impacts of any beverage container.
There are several good reasons why aseptic packaging is considered by packaging experts to be one of the most environmentally responsible beverage packages on the market today:
Source reduction through minimal use of materials. Because they are made with less packaging material than virtually any other comparable container, aseptic cartons create less waste from the start. A typical single-serve aseptic package provides a product-to-packaging ratio that is 96 percent beverage to only 4 percent packaging by weight. By using fewer materials in manufacturing, there is less to dispose of after use.
Energy efficiency. This package also uses far less energy to manufacture, fill, ship, and store products than virtually any comparable package. The aseptic package is a lightweight, efficient brick design, and its ability to preserve beverages without refrigeration or preservatives are key factors in saving energy.
Recycling. Aseptic packages 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 25 states in the US have the ability to recycle aseptic packages and milk and juice cartons curbside and the numbers keep growing. To find out more, contact your local recycling center or the Aseptic Packaging Council at 800-277-8088 or visit www.aseptic.org
What is aseptic packaging?
Aseptic or shelf stable packaging is a beverage and liquid food system that allows products once considered perishable to be distributed and stored without refrigeration for periods of up to 1 year or more. The packaging achieves the room-temperature shelf stability by filling a sterilized package with a sterile food product within the confines of a hygienic environment. Many other package types use preservatives or the product must be refrigerated to achieve a long shelf life. Aseptically processed liquid foods and beverages are sterilized outside the package using an ultra-high temperature process that rapidly heats, then cools, the product before filling. . This flash-heating-and-cooling aseptic process substantially reduces the energy use and nutrient loss associated with conventional sterilization. As a result, aseptically packaged products retain more nutritional value, and exhibit more natural texture, color, and taste.
Can I order your products directly from you?
We’re sorry, but our company is not set up to sell directly to consumers. Instead, we sell to regional wholesale food distributors who stock your favorite stores with our products.
Where are Soy Dream and Rice Dream products sold?
Rice Dream and Soy Dream are sold in all natural food stores and many supermarkets throughout North America. Check out the Store Locator section of our website.
I have special dietary needs because of allergic reactions to many common ingredients in foods. Where can I find information about which Dream Products I can use?
Please look at Special Dietary Restrictions page for information about all common allergens. There you can view lists of products by such dietary concerns as Dairy Free Products, Gluten Free Products, Peanut free Products, Vegan Products, Soy Free Products, Corn Free Products, and Kosher Products.
How long are the Imagine products good after opening?
We suggest that the products are refrigerated and consumed within 7-10 days.