Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

Where can I buy Annie's Naturals products?

Why do the Consorzio Oil and Marinade labels now look different? Did anything change?

Consorzio has partnered with its sister company, Annie's Naturals, the best selling all-natural and organic salad dressings and condiments brand, to drive wider national distribution of the Consorzio line.  This means that you’ll be able to find our product in more locations, and more families will have access to our selection of delicious foods.

All of the Consorzio recipes remain the same, but you’ll see that we've enhanced our flavored Oil graphics with an ingredient illustration and added both company logos to the Oil and Marinade packaging.

Annie’s Naturals was founded in 1984 by culinary innovator Annie Christopher, and offers deliciously uniquely salad dressing flavors as well as a full line of condiments, including mustards, marinades, BBQ sauces, and ketchup.  Annie’s Naturals products are made from only the very best quality ingredients, and pack in lots of flavor without using preservatives, partially hydrogenated oils, artificial colors or flavorings, or excessive sugar. 

Are the Consorzio Oil and Marinades sold under the name Consorzio or Annie's Naturals?

Consorzio is now a sub-line of Annie's Naturals. The Oils and Marinades will be sold under both the Consorzio and Annie’s Naturals names. 

I can’t find Consorzio at my local grocery store.  Where should I look? 

Depending on your local grocery store, Consorzio may be on the shelves with the "gourmet" or "specialty" products or in the "natural" or "health food" aisle of the store. If you can't find our products in either of these locations, please ask the manager to carry our products, or buy them here online!

I see new marinades and flavored oils in your product line. What's new?

Annie's Naturals is proud to introduce its sister company, Consorzio, the leading Napa Valley creator of Marinades, BBQ sauces, Dressings, and Flavored Olive Oils. Consorzio will be joining Annie’s Naturals as a sub-line, and brings several new marinade flavors, as well as a complete line of delicious Flavored Olive Oils.   These products will feature both the Annie’s Naturals and Consorzio logos. 

In addition to being able to distribute our products more broadly, this partnership allows us to provide our loyal consumers with the largest line of Organic marinades and gourmet oils.

Originally founded in 1994, Consorzio began with a vision to create all-natural, bold and flavorful products to encourage chef-style cooking at home.  With a line of flavor-infused olive oils and dipping oils, Consorzio, which means “gathering” in Italian, developed a brand rich in its Napa Valley heritage and passionate about sharing the attitude of “good friends, good food, good wine” with consumers.  

Why did you change your Marinade packaging from glass to plastic?
We choose our packaging with as much case as we do the ingredients that we use to make our products.  Our new plastic marinade bottles offer several benefits.  PET plastic is extremely light weight and is shatter-resistant, which means we’re able to use less packing materials during shipment, lessening our environmental impact.  It is also easily recyclable nationwide, and it’s easier for you to use while you’re BBQing on the patio!

Are the Consorzio Oil and Marinades sold under the name Consorzio or Annie's Naturals?
Consorzio is now a sub-line of Annie's Naturals. The Oils and Marinades will be sold under both the Consorzio and Annie’s Naturals names. 

What type of container should I marinate in?
Food should be marinated in a nonreactive container, one made of glass, porcelain, clay or stainless steel. Ziplock plastic food bags make great vessels for marinating. Avoid aluminum and cast iron which can react with the acids in the marinade.

Use a shallow bowl so the marinade covers as much of the food as possible; turn the food at least once an hour.

Let food marinate in the fridge, not on the kitchen counter, to avoid contracting harmful bacteria.

Can I use my leftover marinade?
It seems a shame to discard that flavorful mixture, but do not be tempted to reuse leftover marinade. During the contact with raw foods, the marinade can pick up harmful bacteria that could make you ill. For the same reason, it's wise to cook leftover marinade before using it to baste with or to add to sauce (boil for 5 minutes to destroy any harmful bacteria).

I have heard that infused olive oils can be dangerous. Is this true?
While Annie's Naturals Olive Oils are quite safe, it is true that when improperly produced some infused oils can be dangerous. Olive oil itself will not grow bacteria, but when pieces of whole herbs or vegetables are introduced clostridium botulinum, a soil-born bacteria can produce a toxin that causes food poisoning. Annie's Naturals uses a process wherein the essence of the roasted garlic is blended with olive oil. We, as are most food producers, are highly regulated and our products are naturally wholesome and shelf stable

If you are producing your own flavored oils at home, always refrigerate and use within a week or two.

Which of your products are Kosher? Who certifies them?

Kosher describes food that is fit to eat under Jewish dietary law. Our certifying agency is Kosher Supervision of America (KSA), P.O. Box 35721, Los Angeles, CA 90035, and Rabbi Binyomin Lisbon is the Kashrus Administrator. The below products have been certified Kosher.

Basil Olive Oil
Roasted Garlic Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Roasted Red Pepper Olive Oil
Organic Meyer Lemon Olive Oil
Organic Sicilian Orange Olive Oil

Organic Sesame Orange Marinade
Organic Mango Cilantro Lime Marinade
Organic BBQ Sauce Original
California Teriyaki Marinade
Roasted Garlic & Balsamic Marinade
Organic Baja Lime Marinade

How should I store my Annie's Naturals products?

Unopened Annie's Naturals products should be stored in a cool, dark place. Once dressings and marinades are opened, they should be kept in the refrigerator. Oils should be kept in a cool, dark place - they do not need to be refrigerated, but should be kept out of direct sunlight.

What Happened to the Cilantro Oil, Orange Oil, Meyer Lemon Oil and the Rosemary flavored olive oils?

Unfortunately, these products were discontinued and there are no plans to make any more of these products.

How can I tell the expiration date for your products?

BBQ Sauce – Our BBQ Sauces has an 15-month shelf life. Each bottle is marked with a “Best By” date, which is stamped on the back of the bottle, above the UPC barcode. Best by dates are written in DD MON YY (Date Month Year) format and are followed with a time stamp. On occasion, the Best By date may be stamped in MM/DD/YY format. Ex: 12 JUL 07/16:26 or 07/12/07

Dressings – Creamy dressings have a 12-month shelf life. Vinaigrette dressings (Raspberry & Balsamic, Mango Fat Free Dressing, Balsamic vinaigrette Dressing and Strawberry & Balsamic Fat Free Dressing) have a 24-month shelf life. Each bottle is marked with a “Best By” date, which is stamped on the neck of the bottle. Best by dates are written in MM/DD/YY format and may be followed with a lot number or time stamp. Ex: 03/09/08

Marinades – Our Marinades have a 12-month shelf life. Each bottle is marked with a “Best By” date, which is stamped on the back of the bottle, above the UPC barcode. Best by dates are written in DD MON YY (Date Month Year) format and are followed with a time stamp. On occasion, the Best By date may be stamped in MM/DD/YY format. Ex: 12 JUL 07/16:26 or 07/12/07

Olive Oils – Our Olive Oils have a 36-month shelf life. Each bottle is marked with a “Best By” date, which is stamped on the back label, above the UPC barcode. Best by dates may be written in MM/DD/YY followed. On occasion, the Best By date may be stamped on the neck of the bottle. Ex: 01/25/09

Condiments - Our Ketchup has a 15 month shelf life, our Mustards have a 18 month shelf life, and our Worcestershire Sauce has a 18 month shelf life.