FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How do I order larger-format bags?

La Milanaise does not sell directly to consumers, so we do not take orders at our facilities. You have several options:

Ask your local artisan baker if they can sell or order you the product you’re looking for. Not everyone will be willing, but it never hurts to ask.
Order online at www.cgmfoods.com. You’ll find our products under “Flour” in the Bakery section. Some but not all our products are available through the CMG online store.
You may be able to arrange a special order with Avril health food stores. Contact customer service at their head office for more information. Avril only accepts bulk orders for flour. Once the Avril store near you has received your order, you’ll be notified that it is ready for pick it up.
Our organic unbleached white flour is available in 11.34 kg format at Costco.”

What allergens are your products exposed to at your facilities?

La Milanaise facilities contain no allergens except for wheat (gluten) and sesame. Since sesame is used on a separate production line, for only one of our products, contamination risk is minimal. We have a dedicated allergen management team and strict procedures in place to ensure safe products and to minimize the risk of allergens in our facilities and in our products. You can also consult the allergen table at the bottom of every product page.

Can I order online?

Unfortunately, we can’t sell our products online based on our current business model, but you can order online via Avril or La Boîte à Grains. Both companies ship across Canada. You can also find our products in-store at IGA, Mayrand, Avril and Métro.

What is the protein content of your flour?

Some recipes will recommend using flour with a specific protein ratio. Different types of flour contain different amounts of protein. You’ll find the protein ratio listed on every product page. You can also calculate the protein content of our flour using the protein number found on the Nutrition Facts table, divided by the serving size and multiplied by 100. For example, our all-purpose unbleached organic white flour contains 7 g of protein per 60 g: 7/60 x 100 = 11.66% protein.

Is your packaging recyclable?

All our packaging can be composted. It is made from biodegradable paper and printed with water-based ink. The plastic used in our packaging is made from cornstarch. Unfortunately, our 1 kg oat-flake bags are not yet recyclable; we’re currently working on alternatives.

All our 20 kg bags are compostable, as is the 11.34 kg format sold at Costco.

What are the differences between the types of flour?

The differences between our various types of flour depend on the grain’s components.

Bran is the grain’s protective coating. It is high in fibre and contains B vitamins.
Starch is found at the centre of the grain. It contains carbohydrates and proteins.
The germ is the grain’s kernel. It is high in fat and rich in vitamin B and E. It also contains all the essential elements for a future seedling to grow.

FLOUR TYPES
White flour: flour from which the bran and germ have been removed, leaving only the starch.

Sifted flour: flour consisting of the grain’s starch (just like white flour) and part of the bran. The smallest bits of the bran are mixed with the starch. Because of this, sifted flour contains more fibre than white flour, but is lighter than whole-wheat flour. Since bran absorbs liquid, you should add a bit more liquid when baking with sifted flour.

Whole wheat: flour composed of the grain’s starch and all of its bran. Whole wheat flour is more nutritious than white or sifted flour. Using it in your baking will result in a darker colour and more pronounced taste. When working with whole-grain flour, you will need to add more liquid to the dough, since the bran has high absorbency.

Integral whole wheat flour: flour including all parts of the grain, i.e., the bran, starch and germ. Since the entire grain has been ground into the flour, you will need to add even more water than you would when using whole-wheat flour.

What does “unbleached” mean?

Unbleached flour is flour that hasn’t been bleached using chemical agents. White flour is naturally a yellow or beige colour, like the colour of grain. Some flour mills bleach their flour using peroxide, chlorine or chlorine dioxide to make them look whiter. La Milanaise does not bleach its white flour. Their off-white colour means they are free of bleaching agents.

How do I decide which flour to use in my recipes?

Different types of flour have different aromas, tastes and specific uses. Consult the table to decide which flour is best for what you’re baking.

What does the “T” stand for?

Every country has its own system for grading flour. In France, flour is classified according to a “T” system, based on its ash content. The ash content corresponds to the amount of minerals left after a process where the flour is burned; what is left is measured for its ash content. The higher the “T” content, the higher the bran content. Visit our product pages to find out the T categories of our various types of flour.

What’s the difference between stone-ground flour and flour ground with steel roller mills?

There are different methods of milling grain into flour. The two most popular are stone milling and steel roller milling. Flour milled using either method has the same nutritional value and there is no change in how it is used in baking.

Stone-ground flour usually has higher absorption due to damage to the starch during the milling process. False absorption can also occur with stone-ground flour.

Roller milling results in less damage to the grain’s starch. It also allows for better control of product stability, which means a more consistent product.

What if your product doesn’t meet my expectations?

Your satisfaction is important to us. We’re committed to offering our customers premium products. If one of our products doesn’t meet your expectations, please email your comments to info@lamilanaise.com. We’ll get back to you as quickly as possible.

Why should I buy organic?

Organic products have become increasingly popular. Consumers are choosing organic for environmental and health reasons. There are many reasons to eat organic. MAPAQ (the Quebec department of agriculture, fisheries and food) lists some benefits of organically grown food:

“The way that organic food is grown and processed protects the environment, supports biodiversity and respects the cycles of nature. Organic farming fosters the use of renewable resources, recycling, and improved soil quality and fertility. It also supports the health and well-being of animals and promotes local economies and the importance of our agricultural land.”

For more information, visit the following addresses: MAPAQ, Québec Bio.

How do you ensure product consistency?

La Milanaise products undergo numerous tests before, during and after they are processed to ensure quality and consistency. We test grain quality before milling. We verify that our grain is of the best quality and has all the right characteristics to make premium flour. Once milling is complete, a sample of every batch is tested by our lab team. The team tests the samples to check for consistency.

Why is your white flour enriched?

Under the Food and Drugs Act and Regulations, all white flour sold in Canada must be enriched with vitamins and minerals. By law, white flour must contain thiamine, riboflavin, niacin or niacinamide, folic acid and iron. For more information, visit the following website.

How do I place an order?

“La Milanaise works with distributors to sell its products. They handle all customer orders and deliveries. In Quebec, two distributors carry our entire range of products: Rudolph and Farinex. We do not know the retail prices set by these distributors. For price and delivery enquiries, you can contact them directly.

Bakemark
4625, rue d’Iberville, Montréal (QC) H2H 2L9
1 800 268-1998
info@ventesrudolph.com

Farinex
3780, rue La Vérendrye, Boisbriand (QC) J7H 1R5
450 437-7077
info@farinex.com

How can I access your certificates of analysis (COAs)?

Any professional can access our COAs.
To view them, access the Customer Portal on our website. You can find it on the home page in the upper right corner. You can create an account if you don’t already have one. Once your account has been created, log into the Customer Portal and go to the Certificates of Analysis section. Choose the product whose certificate you’d like to see and select the LOT number.

If I want to order directly from La Milanaise, how much do I need to order?

A full truck, on a fairly regular basis. Prices are ex-works, so they do not include delivery costs. Our payment terms are Net 30. If you are able to meet the criteria, please contact us for more information.

What certifications does La Milanaise currently hold?

La Milanaise is BRC-certified. The British Retail Consortium (BRC) sets standards for food safety, quality and production. These standards guarantee that companies operate in compliance with safety and consumer protection laws. BRC requirements emphasize senior management commitment, implementation of an HACCP plan, and food safety and quality management systems. The BRC also looks at supplier management, site standards (control of pests and foreign bodies) and product control (allergens) as part of its audit to ensure good manufacturing practice (GMP) on site. Our products are also certified organic by Ecocert Canada. Our Ecocert certification includes USDA Organic and Canada Organic certifications. All La Milanaise products are certified Kosher Parve.

What’s the shelf life of your products?

Canadian Food Inspection Agency regulations state that products with a shelf life greater than 90 days do not require a best before date or storage information, as they are considered non-perishable. However, you’ll find the shelf life of every product listed on our product pages, since we want to make sure our grain and flour are used when freshest. You’ll also find instructions on the best way to store our products.
The best way to store flour is in a sealed container, in a cool dry place away from the light. You can also store flour in a sealed contained in your freezer. Storing flour in the refrigerator is not recommended, since it tends to absorb moisture and can turn rancid more quickly.

Do you make gluten-free products?

Since our products are manufactured in a wheat environment, and flour is a highly volatile product, there is always the risk of cross-contamination.
However, some of our grain is gluten-free, including our rice, corn and buckwheat.

What does “organic” mean?

All La Milanaise products are organic, which means they are non-GMO and free from pesticides, including glyphosate. Our products are certified organic by Ecocert Canada. Products labelled “organic” have been produced according to organic farming principles: sustainable practices and the absence of chemical and synthetic products. MAPAQ, the Quebec department of agriculture, fisheries and food, describes organic farming as follows: “[…]Growing and processing organic food uses methods that exclude the use of pesticides (glyphosate) and synthetic chemical fertilizers; genetically modified organisms (GMOs); antibiotics and growth hormones; and irradiation and chemical preservatives.” For more information, visit their website.

Where does your organic cereal grain come from?

La Milanaise is committed to developing Quebec’s organic sector. As a result, we always prioritize buying from our community. Unfortunately, some of the grain we use does not grow in Quebec. The province also has a very limited supply of organic cereal grain. Therefore, La Milanaise sources some of its grain on organic farms in other parts of Canada.

We are currently working on programs specifically designed to help Quebec farmers transition from conventional farming to organic, so we can support our local economy and reduce our ecological footprint. These programs aim to increase organic cereal grain supply and availability in Quebec.

Do you sell your products in larger formats?

Our 20 kg formats are not available for order directly from our facilities. You can special order our products from Avril health food stores by contacting their head office. Our organic unbleached white flour is available in 10 kg format at Costco. Some of our flour can be purchased in 20 kg format by special ordering them from an independent grocery store or bakery.

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FAQ

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