Q: What is gluten? Do Bar-S products contain gluten?
A: Gluten is a mixture of plant proteins that occur in grain. A small percentage of the population has an intolerance or allergy to foods containing these proteins. Most Bar-S products are gluten-free with the exception of Bar-S corn dogs. Corn dogs contain wheat flour.
Q: Are your products gluten-free?
A: Our sausages, hot dogs, lunchmeat, and bacon are gluten-free. There is gluten in our corn dogs.
Q: What type of oil do you fry your corn dogs in?
A: We fry our corn dogs in soybean oil.
Q: Do your products contain soy?
A: Only our corn dogs contain soy.
Q: Do your products contain whey?
A: Only our corn dogs contain whey.
Q: Do your products contain wheat?
A: Only our corn dogs contain wheat.
Q: Do your products contain lactose?
A: Only our corn dogs and cheese-flavored products contain lactose.
Q: What type of casing is used on the hot links?
A: Our hot link casing is collagen-based, made from cowhide.
Q: What is modified food starch?
A: The modified food starch used in Bar-S Foods products is corn starch unless otherwise stated on the ingredient label.
Q: Sodium erythorbate is listed as an ingredient on your label. What is it?
A: Sodium erythorbate is a man-made form of vitamin C. Sodium erythorbate helps keep the color of franks, ham, and other cured meats stable. Sodium erythorbate and similar forms of vitamin C have been used in cured meat products for more than 38 years.
Q: Potassium lactate and sodium diacetate are listed as ingredients on your package. What are they?
A: Potassium lactate is based on potassium salt of natural L (+) lactic acid, which is produced by fermentation of sugar. Both of these food grade ingredients have history as flavoring agents, are very safe and are commonly used to inhibit bacterial growth.
Q: What is the “smoke flavor” listed on the package.
A: The smoke flavor is a liquid smoke used for flavoring.
Q: What is the source of sugar in Bar-S Bacon?
A: The source of sugar in Bar-S Bacon is sucrose.
Q: Do your products have any contamination with nuts, tree nuts, or peanuts?
A: No, we do not produce anything using tree nuts as an ingredient.
Q: What is monosodium glutamate (MSG)? Do Bar-S Foods products contain MSG?
A: Monosodium glutamate is used as a flavor enhancer, much like salt. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, MSG is a safe food ingredient for the general public, and a small percentage of people sensitive to MSG may have mild reactions when they eat foods with large amounts of MSG. The FDA requires MSG to be declared on labels of food products to which MSG has been added.
No Bar-S products contain MSG.
Q: Where can I find Bar-S products?
A: Please visit the Product Locator page and do a search based on your location. If you are having difficulty finding a specific Bar-S Foods product, feel free to contact us on the Contact Us page.
Q: Is the red ring around the bologna edible?
A: No, it is a fibrous type of casing. It’s a combination of cellulose and paper, coated with glycerine. We don’t recommend eating the red ring, or feeding it to your dog, or other pets.
Q: Do you still make the Cajun sausage?
A: No, we no longer make Cajun sausage, but the Hot Smoked sausage has a similar flavor but it is less spicy.
Q: Why are my franks red?
A: Please check the ingredients list on the package. If it lists ‘Red 40’ as an ingredient, you picked up our Classic Red Franks, which are distinguished by a dark red color. This is why the water turns red when you boil the franks.
Q: How do you recommend cooking franks?
A: Our favorite way to cook franks is on a grill, but you can boil them in water or cook in the microwave. For best results, we recommend following the cooking instructions listed on the package.
Q: Are Bar-S products “ready-to-eat” or do they require cooking?
A: Our products, with the exception of bacon, are fully cooked and can be eaten cold out of the package. However, we recommend heating franks and sausages to 165 degrees for the best flavor and to reduce any possible contamination which may have occurred once the packages was opened. Once the product leaves our production facilities, we have no control over what happens to the product at the store level. For example, we cannot guarantee the package has been properly refrigerated at all times, and that the package seal has not been broken.
Q: Where can I find nutritional information?
A: You can find nutritional information on the product package, and on our website by visiting Our Products.
Q: What is a serving size?
A: A serving size is the amount of food in the package recommended for an average adult. This varies according to the product or recipe, but the label indicates the weight, volume, or number of slices of product that equals one serving. Serving sizes are regulated by the FDA and USDA to ensure consistency in nutritional labeling.
Q: How do you arrive at the “fat claims" stated on your packaging?
A: We use high quality primal cuts of pork ham, beef or poultry that are very lean in fat. This enables us to produce a product that is 96% or 97% fat free by USDA standards. In order to put any type of fat claim on our product, it must be approved and in compliance with USDA standards.
Q: Is your food supply chain safe and secure?
A: At Bar-S Foods, food safety is a top priority. Our food processing plants are among the most secure production facilities in the nation and utilize the most sophisticated food safety systems available. Bar-S Foods’ policies and procedures for quality and safety meet and or exceed all federal, state, and local requirements. Inspection personnel from these regulatory agencies monitor compliance on a regular basis. We continually review security procedures at all of our manufacturing facilities and improve our systems as new technology becomes available. In addition, our emergency preparedness plans allow us to quickly respond to issues, whether real or threatened, to protect our employees, products and consumers.
Q: Are food additives safe?
A:All additives used by Bar-S Foods have been approved for general use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Bar-S Foods follows the package label requirements set by the FDA. Not all consumers react the same to all food ingredients. People who have or think they have conditions that may cause reactions to certain ingredients are advised to visit the FDA website, for more detailed information.
Q: Are your products tested?
A: Yes, all of our products are continually tested to ensure quality, safety, and taste.
Q: Do we have a constant temperature being monitored from the cooking point until packaging?
A: We monitor room temperature and product temperature because cooking and chilling are monitored as Critical Control Points.
Q: Is your packaging safe?
A: Yes, all of our packaging materials have written guarantees and comply with the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, which is administered by the FDA. These written guarantees are monitored in our plants by the USDA Food Safety Inspection Service.
Q: What does the “Use By” date mean?
A: The "use by" date on a food product is the date Bar-S Foods recommends the product be used or frozen to ensure quality and consistency.
Q: How long are Bar-S Foods products good after the “Use by” date?
A: The product is safe to eat and should be consumed within 7 days of the “use by” date or after the product seal is broken. All product must be stored in the refrigerator and wrapped tight with plastic wrap or stored in a Ziplock bag.
Q: How long can Bar-S Foods products be frozen?
A: Bar-S products should be frozen on or before the “use by” date. We recommend our products be consumed within 6 months after freezing for the best flavor.
Q: What is a UPC?
A: The Universal Product Code symbol is the bar code that is printed on the package, with several thick, black vertical lines and a group of numbers printed underneath. It is used as an inventory control for both the manufacturer and the store.
Q: Where can I find the UPC?
A: The UPC will be visible on the outside packaging, just look for the white box with a black bar code.
Q: Where can I get an annual report?
A: Bar-S Foods is a private company and therefore, we do not publish an annual report for public viewership. However, please visit About Us for interesting facts and information about the company.
Q: How do I apply for a job at Bar-S Foods?
A: Please visit the Careers page on our site.
Q: How can I unsubscribe from Bar-S Foods mailing lists?
A: If you wish to have your name removed from our mailing list, click on “unsubscribe.”
Q: How did you get my name?
A: Bar-S Foods collects names when consumers complete any of our consumer forms. If you wish to have your name removed from our e-mailing list, click on “unsubscribe”.
Q: How can I submit my idea for products, advertising, or recipes?
A: Although we appreciate you taking time to send us your idea, please know that any ideas submitted to us become the property of Bar-S Foods and we cannot compensate you nor return your idea to you. You can send in ideas by going to Contact Us and filling out an ‘Other’ form. To submit recipe ideas, please go to the Recipes page and fill out the submission form at the bottom of the page.
Q: Are your products non-GMO (Genetically Modified)?
A: No, we do not guarantee our ingredients are non-GMO.
Q: Do Bar-S Foods products contain casein or dairy products?
A: Most Bar-S products do not contain dairy products. However, Bar-S skinless smoked sausages and corn dogs contain whey milk product. Casein will be found in any cheese-flavored products. Casein is not present in franks or lunchmeats.
Q: What are hot dogs made of?
A: If it is a beef frank, it is made with beef and spices. If it a mixed meat frank, it is made with chicken, pork, beef, and spices. If it is a turkey frank, it is made with turkey and spices. If it is a chicken frank, it is made with chicken and spices.
Q: What is Kielbasa Sausage?
A: Kielbasa is the Polish word for sausage. It is a famous sausage in Polish culture and continues to play a key role in Polish culture. Our Kielbasa sausage features a unique blend of spices and herbs to pay homage to this famous sausage.
Q: How is lunchmeat made?
A: Lunchmeat is made by combining turkey or pork with spices then it is cooked in a container to bind.
Q: What do I do if my product's packaging is damaged?
A: Bar-S Foods recommends that you return the product to the store and have it replaced.
Q: How many calories are in a hot dog?
A: Please refer to the nutrition facts found on the front of your package; most hot dogs will have 110 calories for one frank.
Q: How much protein is in a hot dog?
A: Please refer to the nutrition facts found on the front of your package; most hot dogs will have 3 grams of protein.
Q: How many calories are in a slice of bacon?
A: Please refer to the nutrition facts found on the front of your package; most bacon will have 80 calories for 2 slices.