INDIA TREE FAQ
	1. Can I buy India Tree products directly from India Tree? India Tree is a wholesaler. We do not sell directly to the public. Please visit the store locator on our web site to find stores in your area that carry our product. 2. Where can I find India Tree products? Click on the Store Locator link on our website. Enter your zip code or country to pull up a list of local retailers. 3. Which India Tree products are all natural? The following India Tree products are all natural: baking sugars from Mauritius, Nature's Colors line of decorating sugars, decoratifs and liquid colorants, select toppings, select coffee sugars, sugar cubes, peppercorns, salt, spices, mushrooms, chiles and popcorn. For a list of ingredients, please reference the product information sheet accessible through the individual product's page on this website. 4. Are India Tree products organic? India Tree is not a certified organic supplier. 5. Are India Tree products Kosher certified? Almost all India Tree products are Kosher certified by the Chicago Rabbinical Council. Please see their website at www.crcweb.org for a complete listing of India Tree products. Every Kosher certified India Tree product bears the appropriate Kosher symbol on its label and its product information sheet, the latter accessible through the individual product's page on this website. 6. Are India Tree products vegan? India Tree products that may be considered suitable for a vegan diet include: baking sugars from Mauritius, Nature's Colors liquid decorating dyes, spices, chiles, mushrooms and popcorn. For a list of ingredients, please reference the product information sheet accessible through the individual product's page on this website. 7. Is India Tree sugar filtered using bone or animal char? India Tree decorative sugars have been refined using bone char, which acts as a filter to remove impurities during the refining process. It is not an ingredient. Our brown baking sugars from Mauritius are not filtered with bone char. 8. Are India Tree popcorns genetically modified? Our popcorns are not genetically modified. 9. Are India Tree sugars fair trade? We source our brown sugars from Mauritius from fair trade vendors, but India Tree itself is not certified fair trade. 10. What procedures are followed to protect against cross contamination of product lines with known allergens? India Tree labels contain a list of all known ingredients. In the case of allergies, it is up to the customer to be aware of which ingredients may be harmful to them or their children. Because we source our products from many different suppliers, it is impossible for us to guarantee that cross-contamination cannot or has not occurred at some point in the supply chain. To reduce the risk of cross contamination in our plant, we do utilize an Allergen Control Program that specifies changeover procedures when running from an allergen product, such as soy, to a non-allergen product. 11. Where can I find a complete list of ingredients for India Tree products? All ingredients in India Tree products are listed on the label. Nutritional and other information can be found on our website, accessible via the individual product's page. 12. What is in the Natural Decorating Colors? India Tree Natural Decorating Colors are made from concentrated vegetable colorants. They contain no corn syrup or synthetic dyes. For a list of ingredients, please reference the product information sheet accessible through the individual product's page on this website. 13. Which India Tree products contain dairy? India Tree products containing milk or milk derivatives include, but may not be limited to Chocolate Vermicelli, Send in the Clowns, and Chocolate Decoratifs. 14. Are India Tree products peanut and tree nut free? None of our products contains peanuts or tree nuts as an ingredient, nor do we handle nuts in our plant. Some of our products are manufactured by suppliers who also process nuts in their facility. Because of this, we cannot guarantee that cross contact with peanuts never occurs at some point in the supply chain. 15. Are India Tree products gluten free? None of our products contains gluten as an ingredient, nor do we handle wheat, rye, barley or oats in our plant. Some of our products are manufactured by suppliers who also process these grains in their facility. Because of this, we cannot guarantee that cross contact with gluten never occurs at some point in the supply chain. 16. Does India Tree use cornstarch in any of its products? For a list of ingredients, please reference the product information sheet accessible through the individual product's page on this website. 17. Is alcohol used in the processing of India Tree Sparkling Sugars? No. 18. What is the shelf life of the Natural Decorating Colors? Consult the 'Best By" date on the side of each box of Natural Decorating Colors. 19. What is the shelf life of India Tree sugars? Sugar has an indefinite shelf life. Over time our muscovado sugars may clump or harden due to their high molasses content. As a courtesy to our customers, the labels of our brown sugars carry instructions on how to soften brown sugars. 20. What is confectioner's glaze? Confectioner's glaze is a clear, all-natural coating used to protect the quality and taste of mostly candy items. It is used to seal the candies from air and moisture. It is made from the natural resin gathered by the Lac beetle that thrives on various host trees and shrubs in India, Burma, Indochina and Siam. The Lac beetle converts the sap of the trees into resin. It is very similar to a bee's production of honey and is called 'transferred nectar.' The Lac resin is collected, crushed, washed, dried, and made into pure food glaze. The Lac beetle is not harmed in any way. 21. Why does the label say "For Decoration Only" on the Silver Dragees? What is in them? Dragees are a very old European tradition and have been used in Europe and the United States for years to decorate wedding cakes and other fine pastries. The FDA in its Compliance Policy Guide 7117-03 classifies silver dragees in the following way: "When small silver balls known as 'silver dragees' are sold exclusively for decorating cakes and are used under conditions which preclude their consumption as confectionery, they are not considered to be in the category of food or confectionery." Because they are not categorized for food or confectionery, the FDA does not want the manufacturer to list the ingredients. However, it may be helpful to know that they are made mostly of sugar. They may also contain small amounts of gum Arabic, wheat flour, artificial coloring, and/or a very thin coating of silver. The European Union recognizes silver as a legitimate color additive and states that "small amounts of it consumed on special occasions are not harmful." Silver appears in medicines, cough drops and tooth fillings as well as in our water supply in controlled amounts. It is used to purify city drinking and swimming pool water. It occurs naturally in the soil in which produce is grown, and thus finds its way into the vegetables that we eat. You may wish to access the FDA ruling cited above on the web. You may also wish to visit the website of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR CAS #7440-22-4) for more information on the effect of small amounts of silver on health. 21. Can I use Nature's Colors Natural Decorating Colors to dye Easter eggs? Our natural food coloring is specifically formulated for icing and was not made to dye eggs.