Faqs
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Product Information | Preparation, Packaging, & Storage | Ordering | Shipping | Returns | Wholesale
Drying removes water from food, preventing bacteria, yeast, and mold from spoiling it. This process slows down the action of enzymes but does not inactivate them. Since bacteria and mold need moisture to grow, drying is an effective method of food preservation. There are several ways to dry food, including air drying, sun drying, controlled heat, and sublimation (freeze-drying). Dried foods are ideal for camping, travel, and emergency storage because they require no refrigeration and are lightweight and compact. Outdoor Herbivore uses both dehydrated (heated-air) and freeze-dried ingredients, depending on the product. Generally, our no-cook meals are made with freeze-dried ingredients.
No. All of our products contain only natural ingredients. We do not use or add chemical preservatives, synthetic flavors, or food colors. Drying is our process of food preservation, either air drying or freeze-drying, and nothing else. We prohibit sulfites, which can cause adverse reactions in sensitive individuals. Unsulfured dried foods may have a faded appearance, but are a much healthier choice. We prohibit Genetically Engineered food ingredients.
We test our products in the field using an MSR Pocket Rocket throughout the season at elevations ranging from sea level to 9,000 feet. Our recommended hydration times are based on calculations for 5,000 feet.
At altitudes above 5,000 feet, meals require longer soaking and cooking times. A general guideline is to add 1 minute of cook (hot soak) time for every 1,000 feet of elevation gain above 5,000 feet. See also tips for cooking backpacking food at high elevations.
Many factors of an industrialized lifestyle contribute to diminished health, increased disease, and digestive distress. Besides the prevalence of chemical toxins in our environment, processed foods often contain a mix of pesticides, artificial flavors, color agents, unnecessary additives, fillers, preservatives, and other alterations to make production cheaper, extend shelf life, and enhance taste. These non-natural substances add extra toxins for the body to eliminate.
Organic farming practices avoid the use of harmful chemical agents that harm soil and crop health. For example, while conventional farming uses chemical herbicides to kill weeds, organic farming relies on traditional methods such as crop rotation and mulching for weed control. Choosing organic food reduces your exposure to unnecessary toxins. Not only is organic food healthier for us, but it also benefits the environment.
Outdoor Herbivore uses the Dirty Dozen list as a guide for selecting organic food. Approximately 75 percent of our ingredients are certified organic by USDA NOP-certified or QIP-certified producers.
Yes, we use organic cane sugar, which prohibits filtering using bone char. Bone char is prohibited under the organic program standards. We do not use beet sugar or corn sugar. Most sugar from beets and corn in the US is genetically modified, while sugarcane is not.
We do not use synthetic monosodium glutamate (MSG) in any of our products. Instead, we rely on natural glutamate found in plant foods, such as tomatoes and mushrooms, which provides an exceptional umami flavor.
We do not use hydrolyzed or texturized soy. Soy-based texturized vegetable protein (TVP) is made from genetically modified (GMO) soy and processed with hexane solvent, which we do not support. Additionally, soy TVP is high in sodium and glutamate and is often added to food products to enhance flavor and mimic a meat-like texture and taste. It is popular in many vegetarian backpacking meals to boost protein content and flavor. We are concerned about the consumption of this product and do not endorse it.
Instead of soy-based TVP, we recommend TVP made from yellow peas processed without hexane and free of gluten, soy, or whey protein. Otherwise, whole-food plant ingredients offer superior nutrition and taste. Please see our food model for more information about our ingredient criteria.
Outdoor Herbivore's meals are all lacto-ovo vegetarian, which means they contain dairy and eggs but no meat. Our products are 100% meat-free, and we strictly prohibit the use of animal flesh or byproducts (except for dairy and eggs) in our food processing facility. Additionally, we offer many vegan options, as vegan backpacking food is our specialty.
Our facility is not certified gluten-free, and some products we purchase are not certified gluten-free. Although many of our products may be suitable for those with gluten sensitivities, we produce in a single facility that processes gluten products. Always read the ingredient list carefully since our meals contain many allergenic ingredients (including gluten, tree nuts, peanuts, soy, dairy, and egg). We take all allergens seriously, and have instituted the following procedures as part of our food manufacturing process -
- Allergenic meals are produced at the end of a production run, and a complete clean-up and sanitization are performed before producing other products.
- Products are segrated Manage and segregate allergenic products in storage to prevent cross-contact with non-allergenic ingredients.
Although we clean equipment and keep ingredients separate, we do not claim our products are "gluten-free" because we do not test them for gluten. Contamination at any stage of food production and processing is possible. If you're particularly sensitive to the tiniest trace of gluten, you should purchase certified gluten-free products. We recommend that you not consume our products if you are highly allergic to gluten.
Outdoor Herbivore uses Red Star Vegetarian Support nutritional yeast. The ingredients are dried inactive yeast, niacin (B3), pyridoxine hydrochloride (B6), thiamin hydrochloride (B1), riboflavin (B2), folic acid (B9), and cyanocobalamin (B12), produced by natural fermentation—not synthetic or of animal origin. It is non-GMO, and the yeast is grown on sugar/molasses under carefully controlled conditions and then dried in drums. More information about nutritional yeast and how it is made.
Yes, Outdoor Herbivore maintains a product attribute spreadsheet that summarizes and catalogs all of our food products, including the calorie content, weight, and common food allergens such as soy, dairy, gluten, and nightshade ingredients.
The method depends on if the meal is a cold-prep or hot-prep meal. All of our meals fully hydrate within 5 - 15 minutes.
For cold-prep meals,
1) Tear open the packaging at the tear notch, remove the oxygen absorber, and pour cool water into the pouch. Stir well.
2) Seal the pouch and allow meal to hydrate for the length of time stated on the package. Enjoy!
For hot-prep meals,
1) Boil amount of water as directed in a cooking pot.
2) Tear open the packaging at the tear notch, remove the oxygen absorber, and pour the boiling water in the pouch. Stir well.
3) Seal the pouch and allow the contents to rehydrate for the length of time stated on the package. Enjoy!
Note: You can add boiling/cold water to our pouches to rehydrate the meal and eat from the pouch, eliminating the need to pour the meal into a separate container (e.g., a cook pot or thermos).
Don't want to eat from the pouch? Boil the amount of water according to the package. Add the dry meal directly to your cook pot/resusable container with the water, stir well, and cover. Allow the ingredients to hydrate in the container. Make sure to cover the container with a tight-fitting lid to retain heat. If it's cold outside, we recommend using a pot cozy to speed up hydration and keep the meal HOT.
Outdoor Herbivore's packaging is compact to save on space and weight. Our backpacking meals use a water-tight paper-based barrier pouch with a plastic liner. Due to the multi-layer construction, it is not recyclable. The meals are available in two sizes:
- Single (Serves 1): 7 inches wide x 7 inches tall x 3.75-inch gusset.
- Double (Serves 2): 8 inches wide x 7 inches tall x 4-inch gusset.
Outdoor Herbivore uses minimally processed whole-food organic ingredients, such as brown rice, whole wheat, fatty nuts, seeds, and olive oil, which have a shelf life of about 2 years for peak quality. Please purchase only the food you plan to consume within that time frame. Keep our food stored in a cool and dry place away from light, such as a kitchen cabinet. Never store food long-term in a damp area, near a window, on the floor, near heat, or near moisture. Do not store food in areas with high temperature fluctuations, such as a garage, attic, crawl space, or vehicle trunk.
Many of our products contain whole grains, nuts, and seeds, which have a higher oil content and can spoil if not stored properly. It is best to consume these products by the date printed on the package. To extend these products' shelf life, keep them in an airtight container in the freezer. Freezing can extend the shelf life 6 - 10 months beyond the Best By date printed on the package. The meals may not look or taste optimal; however, they should be safe to consume. If freezing, seal the meals in a larger sealed bag (such as a freezer bag) to dry. Open the pouch and check that no moisture is present on the inside of the meal bag before leaving for your trip or eating. If water develops on the dried food (likely because the pouch was opened), don't eat it. Throw it out. The moisture can quickly grow mold or bacteria and isn't worth the risk. When you consume food past the expiration date, we recommend using the smell test before consuming - especially on meals containing nuts, which can go rancid. The best way to describe the odor of spoiled nuts is that it smells like paint. It's a distinctly unpleasant odor. When in doubt, throw it out.
Yes. We have a summarized listing of all our food items to help you plan your order. View Catalog
Outdoor Herbivore uses premium, organic ingredients. From sourcing our food ingredients to drying, mixing, and packaging, we are focused on making the best meals we can at the best price for you. Playing marketing games is not our focus. That's why you will rarely see discounted Outdoor Herbivore products. Please check for current specials, or join our Facebook page for new products and updates.
No, there is no tax on food products that are shipped within the USA.
We encourage you to speak with the store manager and ask them to carry our products. Please let them know you are looking for Outdoor Herbivore's food products. You can print this letter and bring it to the store manager. Once you've done that, please send us a quick note with the store name. We will follow up with them to get Outdoor Herbivore in the store where you shop. Thank you for helping us to provide healthy dried meals for you and others to enjoy!
We would love to hear from you! We are continually improving our products and would greatly appreciate any feedback you can provide, both good and bad. There are a few ways you can give us feedback:
- Review products you've purchased (look for our email, approximately 20 days after you place an order)
- Tell us what you would like to see in the future by taking our Trail Food Survey
We do not have a retail store. However, you can choose to pick-up your order to save on shipping. Our pickup location is at 4621 Orange Grove Ave, Sacramento, CA. Note: the pickup option will appear only for Sacramento-area residents. If you live outside the area and still want to pick up your order, please enter your name with our address as your shipping address. You will be notified by email when the order is ready for pickup. Our current pickup times are Mon - Fri from 10 AM to 3 PM. All pickup orders must be placed online.
We ship to Australia, Canada, Chile, Mexico, New Zealand, the UK, most of Europe, and the United States, including U.S. Territories and overseas U.S. Military Bases. Most orders ship via Post Office, UPS, or FedEx. Please check our shipping page for detailed information.
We ship out orders quickly, so please contact us immediately to let us know the correct address or if you need to change your order. Once your order ships, we are unable to change the delivery address or update the order.
Yes. Please add this info as a comment when you place your order. We will include this information on your parcel.
Shipping time depends on your location and the shipping method. Orders ship the next business day and take 2 - 6 business days to arrive (United States) and 5 - 14 business days (international). Please see our shipping page for more information about transit times. Tracking information will be emailed to you when your order ships. If you create an account, you can also check the status of your order under your account details.
If you have created an account with us, you may check the status of your order by clicking the "My Account" button at the top of the page. You will be asked to enter your email address and password to retrieve the status of your order. If you did not create an account with us, you are sent an email with your tracking number when your order ships.
We're sorry to hear this. If your order is marked as delivered but you have not yet received it, please wait 3 business days before reaching out or filing a claim. Meanwhile, please check with your neighbors, building manager, or concierge/mailroom to see if they have received the package for you.
- Click Sign in on the top right of the screen and sign in with your current email address and password. Note: If you've forgotten your password, go to Sign in and click Forgot your password?
- Click Account on the top right of screen.
- Click Account Settings under Orders.
- Type your new password in Create New Password field
- Type your new password again in Confirm New Password field
- Click Update Details button to save.
Outdoor Herbivore guarantees all of our products. If you are not satisfied with your order, please call us at 1.916.800.4036 or e-mail us within 7 days of receipt, and we will promptly refund your money with store credit, re-ship/replace your order, or make other arrangements. If your order arrives damaged, please take a photo of the original packaging (including the box the order was shipped in) so we can follow up with our shipping carrier. Due to Federal Law, we can NOT accept returns on unused purchased food items. We must dispose of it.
Yes! We work directly with natural food stores, small businesses, and outdoor retailers with a storefront. Please click here to contact us regarding wholesale terms.