Can your products be frozen?
Certain products such as frankfurters, salami, pepperoni, bologna and mock chicken
can be frozen for up to 3 months.
Other products such as smoked meat or roast beef are not recommended for freezing
because they will form ice crystals. This may affect taste, colour, odour and texture.
To preserve the product’s freshness, taste, flavour and appearance, use containers
designed for freezing. Avoid all contact with air, as this may lead to the drying out of the product.
At what temperature should my refrigerator be set?
Maintain the temperature of perishable products between 1°C and 4°C, which restricts
the growth of microorganisms.
Keep a thermometer inside the refrigerator and regularly monitor the temperature.
Adjust the control thermostat as required.
At what temperature should my freezer be set?
Frozen products should be stored at -18°C or less. At this temperature, all enzyme
and microorganism activity responsible for product deterioration stops.
Do your products contain any allergens?
If you suffer from any allergies, you should always read the ingredient listing on the packaging.
If you require additional information or have any questions or concerns on this
subject, please communicate with us at 800-268-4797.
How long can I leave refrigerated products at room temperature?
Never leave products out needlessly.
The danger zone for bacteria growth occurs at + 4°C.
The level of bacteria can double every 15 - 30 minutes if a refrigerated product
sits at room temperature.
Can we leave frozen products to thaw out at room temperature?
Never thaw out frozen products at room temperature. The surface area of the product
thaws long before the interior and is then exposed too long to temperatures that
are ripe for the growth of bacteria.
Safe Thawing Procedures
Letting a frozen product thaw out in the refrigerator is the safest method. Other
methods are:
- Defrosting in a microwave followed quickly by cooking
- Defrosting in a conventional oven followed quickly by cooking
- Defrosting under cold running water. Then place the product in a plastic bag or a waterproof container in the refrigerator.
Can I refreeze hot dogs that have been defrosted in the refrigerator?
Never refreeze a product that has been defrosted. The product’s texture has been modified by the freezing process, so bacteria can develop more easily.
From which ingredients are your hot dogs made?
Our hot dogs are made only from premium quality meats and do not contain any meat by-products. Our standard recipes and specifications ensure that our hot dogs are of the highest quality.
What is required for a product to be approved by the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada?
Check for the symbol Health CheckTM from the Heart and Stroke Foundation on food packaging. This is a quick way of ensuring that the product is a good health choice.
It is like going to the grocery store with a Heart and Stroke Foundation dietician because they have verified the levels of fat, salt, fibre and other important nutritional elements prescribed by the Canadian Food Guide to healthy eating.
Lesters Foods offers consumers two choices which are Health CheckTM approved: smoked meat and pastrami.
Foods which bear the Health CheckTM symbol adhere to specific nutritional criteria for a balanced and healthy diet. There are different criteria for different types of food, dependent on the important nutritional components of each category. The criterion for meat focuses on the levels of fat and sodium.