ZEGO tests for over 500 agricultural chemicals (pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, glyphosate), heavy metals (lead, arsenic, cadmium, mercury), gluten, allergens, and mycotoxins. The frequency depends on a risk assessment and the prevalence of the ingredient in the recipe. Because oats are our most common ingredient, we test every incoming oat delivery for both gluten and glyphosate. Blueberries are a high-risk ingredient for fungicides and they are a significant percentage of our Blueberry Lemon Poppy flavor, so we test every time we purchase them. Lemon powder, however, is a low-risk ingredient and we use tiny amounts in our super food blends, so we test it as part of the finished product. All finished products are tested 2-12 times a year depending on our risk assessment. 

At least twice a year we test finished products for the big 4 heavy metals: lead, cadmium, arsenic, and mercury. Each truck load of oats is tested if from a new farmer and new harvest. We also test higher‑risk or frequently used crops before purchasing, such as sacha inchi protein and spices.

We use a number of certified labs, including BIA, AGQ Labs & Technological Services, FARRP, and Edacious. 

For Double Protein Oats; Superfood Oatmeal (Blueberry Lemon Poppy; Cinnamon & Spice); Muesli (Apple Cranberry; Cinnamon Twist), our testing protocol is as follows.

·       Gluten: Target <5 ppm; certification <10 ppm. Frequency: each inbound lot of oats + monthly forQfinished‑product.

·       Glyphosate: LOQ is 10 ppb. Frequency: each inbound lot + 2–4×/year finished‑product.

·       Pesticide multi‑residue (~500+): LOQ is 10 ppb. Frequency: Frequency: each unique harvest inbound truckload is tested for oats + 2×/year finished products. and finished products.

·       Heavy metals (Pb/As/Cd/Hg): Frequency is monthly for oats + 2×/year finished products.

·       Mycotoxins (e.g., aflatoxin; ochartoxin): 2-4×/year.

For Pure Plant Protein (Sacha Inchi), our testing protocol is as follows:

·      Gluten: LOQ Target <5 ppm; certification <10 ppm. Frequency: each inbound lot of ingredients.

·      Glyphosate: LOQ 10 ppb. Frequency: each inbound lot of ingredients.

·      Pesticide multi‑residue (~500+): each inbound lot of ingredients.

·      Heavy metals (Pb/As/Cd/Hg): Frequency: each inbound lot of ingredients.

·      Mycotoxins: 4×/year.

For our Purity Verification Program, we test samples of our ingredients and finished products. Testing does not guarantee that other samples from the same lot will yield the same results.

Every test has an audio description of the testing to help you better understand each test. We understand that test results can be a little confusing, so we’ve put our result into a thermometer style where green is good! Some other words that you might see on the test results are LOD and LOQ. LOD is Limit of Detection, answers the question “Can I tell it’s there at all?” LOQ is Limit of Quantitation/Quantification, answers the question “Can I tell how much is there with reliable accuracy and precision?”

Yes—we spot test 2-4 times a year to confirm our food safety storage procedures are preventing mycotoxin growth. We test for ochratoxin and/or alflatoxin. Our historic testing shows shows no measurable amounts in ZEGO’s products.

Do you test for histamines? No. Most ingredients used are low in histamines, though cranberries can be higher.

Do you test for perchlorate? Historically no; risk review showed very low risk for oats.

Do you test for nickel? Not currently. ZEGO does not recommend oats for those with a nickel allergy until testing is conducted.

Do you test for Thallium? We do not test for Thallium.

We use an in-house testing for every truck load of oats we buy and send finished products to 3rd party labs at least twice a year, with additional risk‑based testing for some of our other ingredients. Results are shared on our website and through our products’ QR codes.

Since 2018, ZEGO’s tests consistently have shown no measurable glyphosate in our oats at the testing standard most used by labs, which is 10 PPB. This level is used to ensure the tests have a 95% confidence level of accuracy. We minimize the risk of glyphosate residue by working with trusted farmers and conducting frequent in-house and 3rd party lab testing. Scientifically, we cannot tell you there is absolutely no glyphosate residue on our products. The first reason is that science cannot prove a negative, that a chemical is not present. It can only measure if it is present. The second reason is that glyphosate exists in rain, waterways, and soil—even on organic farms.

Glyphosate is the main ingredient found in Round-Up.  And you might be wondering why we would test for this if we are already certified Organic / Non GMO.  Well, because Round-Up is so widely used around the world, it’s found everywhere – even in our drinking water! This means that even organic farms can have Glyphosate residue from the rainwater, or from runoffs from a nearby farm. Glyphosate is proven to be detrimental to our health, and we want to raise awareness on this issue.  Buying organic just isn’t enough, and we need your help! If we start demanding that companies test for this residue, we will see a real change in the food industry.

We use an in-house testing for every truck load of oats we buy and send finished products to 3rd party labs at least twice a year, with additional risk‑based testing for some of our other ingredients. Results are shared on our website and through our products’ QR codes.

You can scan the QR Purity QR Code on the back of any ZEGO package or visit the zegofoods.com Food Safety tab to view our third‑party lab reports for every ZEGO product. We do not publish the results of in-house tests simply because we do SO many that we would have to hire someone full time just to post all the results.

No. It is ZEGO’s informational symbol. ZEGO publishes actual data rather than relying on third‑party certification badges.

We have great respect for the certification agencies and the companies that use them. We feel it is better for customers for us to share our actual data. Certifiers allow companies to have tests that show glyphosate residue from time to time and keep their certification while working to investigate the problem. We understand why, but by sharing all our test results, our customers get more transparency. Our symbol we use on our packaging is informational to tell you that we do test and encourage you to use the QR code on the package to see the data.

Our Seed+Fruit bars, Mix-Ins, Muesli, Double Protein Oats and Plant Protein Powder are certified organic, and our Just Fruit bars, Fruit+Chia bars, Berry Chocolate Decadence bars and Sunny Day bars are certified Non GMO.

The original farmers who started the Gorge Delights company that created our delicious Just Fruit bars grow delicious apples and pears along the Columbia River in Oregon and Washington. At ZEGO, we are committed to continuing that tradition of sourcing our fruit from co-op farms in that region (and our strawberries are from California). We believe where our fruit is grown is the secret to the amazing fresh fruit flavor of these bars.  We would love to use only organic fruit but only 1% of US farmland is organic. And, much of the organic fruit is sold as whole fruit at market and not available in the quantity we need year round. So, we would have to purchase organic fruit from overseas to supplement what we could get from the US. But, we are concerned about high pesticide residue in organic fruit grown in China and some Central and South American countries.

To assure our products are as clean as possible, we go through the non-GMO verification process and actually test them for pesticide residue, specifically for the glyphosate chemical found in Round Up. Because the farmers in Oregon and Washington do not typically use Round Up due to their climate and topography, our tests show that the pesticide residue levels in our fruit bars are nearly as low as that you would expect to see in organic fruit.

Our products are free from the top 14 allergens. Our products are made with no peanuts, no tree nuts, no soy, no dairy, no egg, no wheat, no fish/shellfish/mollusks, no lupin, no sesame, no mustard, no corn, no sulfites or gluten.

We test annually to verify that our allergen-free facility and cleaning procedures are keeping our facility clear of measurable allergen residue.

ZEGO suspended lot‑by‑lot allergen testing after 8+ years with no residues as facility controls remain strict. We maintain a careful allergen food safety protocol and test annually to confirm our protocols and procedures keep our facility and products free from allergen residue. 

No. In fact, many of our ZEGO fans actually do not have food allergies! They love ZEGO for its convenience, purity, flavor and nutrition.

None of the top 14 allergens are in our manufacturing facility. That means no peanuts, tree nuts, soy, milk, wheat, fish, shellfish, mollusks, eggs, sesame, mustard, celery, lupin, sulfites, or corn. Our packaging is corn‑free as well.

Yes. We are certified gluten free by the Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG) to be <10 PPM. ZEGO’s farmers use Purity Protocol practices to prevent gluten cross contact, which typically results in gluten testing under 5 ppm.

Because our facility is completely gluten free and we test frequently, the chance of cross contact is minimized, but as with any grain product, we cannot guarantee there is no gluten cross contact.

Yes—sunflower, flax, poppy, and pumpkin seeds are run on the same equipment as rolled oats, but sesame is not. Two pieces of equipment are used with seeds: our mixer and bag fill machine. The mixer is air‑blown and hand‑cleaned with isopropyl alcohol. The bag fill machine is taken apart, air‑blown, and hand‑cleaned with isopropyl alcohol. The alcohol is not derived from corn. Thorough cleanouts are performed between runs to minimize cross‑contact. Sesame is not present anywhere in the facility.

Yes. Suppliers are screened for gluten, top‑allergens, and corn exclusion.

Sacha inchi is a seed grown in Peru. It was once planted around ancient cities to provide nourishment. Prized for its protein and omega 3 (ALA) fats, these seed are so high in Omega 3s that they actually taste and smell like fish! In fact, they have 17 times more omega 3s than sockeye salmon. This large seed is legendary for its many health benefits. Realizing the market for fish-tasting nutrition bars is indeed small, we do not use the oil in ZEGO’s Seed+Fruit bars. We crush the seeds to press out the oils and then lightly roast the crushed seeds. We use the resulting powder to add protein to our bars. Sacha inchi protein is considered to have the highest quality protein of any other plant-based powders on the market. All the other protein powders are derived from their source using chemicals or enzymes. This can make them hard to digest. But, because sacha inchi protein is just crushed and roasted, and not a derivative, it is easy on your stomach.

People can have food allergies to virtually any food, so it is possible to have an allergy to sacha inchi seeds. Sacha inchi is a seed, not a peanut, but people can be allergic to it. Consult your doctor if experiencing symptoms after eating sacha inchi seed protein. 

There is no corn used in our products, and no corn derivatives in our facility.

We have measured for phytic acid (another anti-nutrient) but not lectins. Our oats have no phytic acid, even before cooking. This is because the phytase keeps it in check (an enzyme still active in raw oats but not other commercial oats).

We will likely measure for lectins this summer but there is no data available from other sources about other brands of oats (at least not that we’ve been able to find), so we may not be able to offer a comparison.

Assuming our oats have some amount of lectins in them, the way to decrease it dramatically would be to simmer them for a full 15 minutes. Watch your water level because our package instructions are for 10 minutes. You may need to add more. 

Here is some extra info on lectins you may find useful:

Oats are lower in lectins than other grains. And, lectins do have nutritional value. Read more here.

Regen (raw, hulless) oats may contain trace amounts of phytic acid, but significantly less than conventional or heat-treated oats. This is because the phytase enzyme in raw oats remains active and keeps phytic acid levels very low—unlike in most commercial oats, where phytase is destroyed during heat processing.

Yes! No animal products are used in ZEGO products. All our products are vegan, as is our manufacturing facility.

Yes, our products are certified kosher by OU.

NO! Rest assured no natural or artificial flavorings, colors, or dyes are used in any of our products.

ZEGO’s double protein oats are raw. Our muesli and protein contain one or more ingredients that have been heated above 104 degrees.

Yes. Toasting and steaming reduce phytic acid levels, though they don’t completely eliminate it. The exact amount of reduction hasn’t been measured.

Yes, there’s a clear difference. In raw Regen oats, the phytase enzyme remains active, which helps keep phytic acid levels minimal. In contrast, regular heat-treated oats have their phytase inactivated by heat, so more phytic acid remains even though some is reduced during the processing.

Yes, Sacha inchi seeds and sacha inchi protein powder contain naturally occurring anti-nutrients like phytic acid, but these compounds can be significantly reduced or eliminated through proper heat and processing methods. Raw sacha inchi seeds contain several anti-nutritional factors, including phytic acid, tannins, trypsin inhibitors, and saponins. These compounds can interfere with mineral absorption and protein digestion when consumed in large amounts. Processed sacha inchi products, like protein powder or defatted flour, undergo such heat treatment steps during oil extraction or drying. Consequently, finished products contain only trace levels of anti-nutrients, making them safe and digestible for regular consumption. ZEGO’s Plant Protein powder goes through a process called gelatinization, which uses heat to reduce phytic acid and other anti-nutrients.

Yes, they are an ingredient in our Seed+Fruit Bars and Mix-Ins products. With our Just Fruit Bars and Fruit+Chia Bars, we use organic sunflower oil on the conveyor belt that carries the bars so they won’t stick.

Rest assured no natural or artificial flavorings, colors, or dyes are used in any of our products. 

We carefully source our fruit from farms in Washington, Oregon, and California.  Additionally, we use the farms “ugly” fruit to help cut down on waste.  What is ugly fruit? It is fruit that is perfectly good to eat, but is misshapen and won’t sell in grocery stores.

Most of our seeds and all of our oats are sourced from U.S. farms as well. Only our organic chia, organic poppy, and organic pumpkin seeds are imported.

• Organic Cane Sugar:
  • Apple Cranberry Muesli: 1g/serving in cranberries

• Double Protein Oats
• Plant Protein
• Muesli – Cinnamon Twist
• Regenerative Organic Oats

Our oats are grown in the High Plains and Inland Empire regions of the western U.S. (Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, the Dakotas, Washington). Our farmers’ fields must be free from gluten containing grains for three years before growing gluten-free oats.

We make our products at our sister company CIVC, a gluten free, allergy free manufacturing facility in Belgrade, MT. We are working with CIVC to upgrading the equipment and purity verification at CIVC and adding processing for ancient grains like millet and buckwheat. We are also helping CIVC add co‑packing capacity to serve brands needing a top 14 allergen‑ and corn‑free and certified gluten‑free manufacturing plant.

No, we do not have steel-cut oats but ZEGO’s Double Protein Oats deliver more protein and fiber than steel‑cut.

First, we start with hulless avena nuda oats that have higher protein than the hulled avena sativa oats; avena sativa is typically grown and sold in North America. Heat processing denatures protein, so to preserve protein, you want to limit oat exposure to heat. Because avena nuda hulls are loose and fall off during harvest, we do not have to heat treat them to remove the hulls. Then, we cold roll our oats into flakes. By avoiding heat at both the dehulling and rolling stages, we keep the protein nature provided in tact. In addition, our oats have a higher protein digestibility score. Our protein ranges .65-.72 on the PDCAAS score whereas heat processed avena sativa is typically in a .48-.55 range.

We always recommend you try one of something before you buy multiple quantities. If you’re unhappy with your purchase, we offer reimbursement only on the first unit ordered. We want to ensure your happiness, so please order a single bag and try our oats or protein before you order in bulk. Bulk purchases are not eligible for return or refund. Everyone has different preferences for taste and texture, so it’s best to try before you commit to a large shipment.

We guarantee you will enjoy your first bag purchased of any of our products and will refund your purchase price (less shipping) if you do not. Or, we can replace your product with a different ZEGO product. If you purchased your product at a retail store or another online seller, please email us at customerservice@zegofoods.com and we will take care of your concern. 

Unfortunately, due to the prevalence of fraud in the return industry, we cannot make exceptions to this policy, and we reserve the right to refuse a refund unless it is for defective product. If you have a damaged product, we will replace the item for you or provide you with a store credit. Please contact us at customerservice@zegofoods.com with any questions.

Our warehouse ships orders very quickly, often within hours of it being placed. It is your responsibility to ensure your order is correct before placing it. If you need to change an order, contact customerservice@zegofoods.com immediately. We will do whatever we can to accommodate your need but cannot guarantee the change can be made. Returns will not be credited to your account unless you have received prior approval via email from us. Orders marked “Return to Sender” will not be credited to your account and will incur a $20 fee.

Unfortunately, packages get lost in the mail and sometimes they are stolen. Theft has become a significant problem under Covid. It happens to us too. We want to help with this as much as we can.

To that end, we now provide an insurance option on our website called Route. We recommend you use Route on your purchase. There is more information in the FAQs on Route. If you package does not arrive, Route will quickly reimburse you or issue a replacement. The cost per order is typically 98 cents.

If you have not received your package in 10 days, and you did not choose Route insurance, please contact us at customerservice@zegofoods.com. Because of the prevalence of fraud in the online purchasing industry, we reserve the right to ask you to pursue your claim with the carrier if the carrier’s tracking records show they delivered the package.

Subscriptions are a great way to save. We offer 10% off the regular price when you sign up for a subscription. No coupon is necessary – the 10% discount will automatically be applied.  We also give subscriptions priority in shipping if our stock runs low. You may choose delivery every one, two or three months and change or cancel at any time.

To cancel or place it on hold, just email us, and we’ll help you make any changes to your subscription – no questions asked.

Please note, effective April 2020, our subscriptions no longer come supersized.  We have decided to offer the 10% discount instead of the supersized boxes.

ZEGO acquired Montana Gluten Free’s brand DBA and customer accounts and manages all fulfillment and billing for the MGF brand.

Montana Gluten Free is still operating at the same facility. ZEGO and Montana Gluten Free are now part of the same company, continuing the same purity protocol and gluten-free standards you trust. The two companies offer different products, with ZEGO focusing on providing purity verification, organic, and superfood-based products.

We’ve partnered with Route—a package protection and tracking solution—to give our customers the best possible delivery experience. Route offers a few options to improve the experience:

Route+

Route+ is premium package protection for your online orders. When you add Route+ at checkout, you can easily file claims for lost, stolen or damaged packages in the unfortunate case that they arise.

Purchased Route+ and need to file a claim? File here

The Route App (Free)

The Route App allows you to visually track all of your online orders in one place. No need to dig through your email for tracking numbers, dynamic maps and real-time shipping updates keep you in the loop throughout every part of your delivery.

Haven’t downloaded the app yet? Download here

Download Route’s mobile app for iOS from the App Store to visually track your package and receive real-time notifications on its estimated delivery.

To protect your order against loss or theft, add Route+ package protection at checkout. 

When you add Route+, you can easily file claims for lost, stolen or damaged packages in the unfortunate case that they arise. When you file a claim, it will be reviewed for approval for a reorder or refund within 24 hours. 

To protect your order against damage that occurred during shipping, add Route+ package protection at checkout. When you add Route+ at checkout, you can easily file claims for lost, stolen or damaged packages in the unfortunate case that they arise. When you file a claim, it will be reviewed for approval for a reorder or refund within 24 hours. 

If your order has defects or you suspect it was damaged during manufacturing, please reach out to us at info@zegofoods.com and we will be happy to work with you to remedy the situation.

Route+ is premium package protection for your online orders. When you add Route+ at checkout, you can easily file claims for lost, stolen or damaged packages in the unfortunate case that they arise. When you file a claim, it will be reviewed for approval for a reorder or refund within 24 hours. 

Route’s terms and conditions are listed here: https://route.com/terms-and-conditions/.

If you insured your order with Route+ at checkout, you will receive a confirmation email from Route with a link to file a claim. You can also file a claim here: https://claims.route.com/. 

Note: Make sure to have the Order ID we sent you or the Route Order ID ready to use with the claim form. 

Yes! When you insure your orders with Route+, stolen items are eligible for reorders or refunds.

Yes. Route is a licensed insurance company with the biggest name in shipping insurance as its partner, Lloyds of London.

We do ship to Canada, but no other international locations at this time.

Typically, shipping takes 2-5 business days + 1–2 days processing; Thu–Fri orders may be shipped Mon–Tue.

Customers should avoid having orders sit in the sun on the porch. Heat exposure will shorten the shelf life of the products, particularly the double protein oats, which may start to sour with even limited exposure to heat and humidity.

ZEGO products are sold in national and regional grocery stores nationwide. You can find a store locator on our website. Stores near you may include Sprouts, Wegmans, Natural Grocers, mid-Atlantic Whole Foods, Gelson’s and Erewhon. You can also check our Contact Page to find a store near you.

Online you can find us at: zegofoods.com and Vitacost, Sometimes our retail and online partners are out of stock, please help us stay on their shelves by requesting your favorite products through their customer service team!

Ask the manager to carry us! Stores love hearing what their customers want.

Check out our Store Locator Page to see which stores near you carry ZEGO!

Yes, we are able to offer wholesale pricing to retailers. Please email us at sales@zegofoods.com. You can also order on Faire at zegofoods.faire.com. 

ZEGO is not accepting new Amazon sellers and does not support resellers. If you prefer to purchase on Amazon, please make sure you are purchasing through ZEGO and not a 3^rd party reseller.

Yes! Make sure you sign up for our mailing list to get all our sale/coupon codes!

We also run sales and giveaways on social media – so follow along with us. Find us @zegofoods on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter

Yes we are proud to be a B Corp, which certifies that we are actively using our company to bring social and environmental good to our world. Please visit our B Corp profile to find out more about our work to improve food safety and transparency and improve nutrition for children.

We are so glad you asked!  We love giving back too.  We give back the equivalent of at least 2% of gross revenue to the community as part of our B Corp commitment. In addition to our monetary donations to regenerative farming and improving nutrition for underserved children, we donate our product to the Food Equality Initiative food bank, which serves people with severe food allergies. We also donate to help the hurricane survivors and the Northern CA fire victims. Check out our blogpost on Why We are a B Corp for more info.

Find us @zegofoods on Facebook and Instagram and say hi! We LOVE seeing your ZEGO photos, so make sure you tag us 🙂

We are based in San Francisco, but our facility is in Belgrade, Montana! We have a dedicated team in Montana for making our great products and packing all online orders and shipments.

Didn’t find the answer you were looking for in our FAQs? No problem, you can reach us at customerservice@zegofoods.com.