FAQ.
Here are our frequently asked questions.
Don’t hesitate to write us an email, if your question has not been answered already.
What is BERTRAND?
BERTRAND is a drinkable meal that provides you with all the essential nutrients the average adult needs every day. Our product comes in a pouch with one day’s worth of meals in powder form or in our practical, disposable, environmentally-friendly bottles. BERTRAND is quick and easy to prepare so you can enjoy the time you’d otherwise spend shopping, cooking and washing up on other things.
How do I eat BERTRAND?
We offer pouches with one day’s worth of meals in powder form and practical, disposable, environmentally-friendly bottles.
For the pouches, depending on the variant, you add 168 to 195 g of powder to our shaker, which we provide all our new customers with free of charge. The right amount of powder is marked on the shaker. Then simply fill the shaker with water, place the included spiral ball on top and shake well. Next step: enjoy your BERTRAND!
Our practical, disposable and environmentally-friendly bottles are filled with water and thoroughly shaken until the powder is completely dissolved. Let stand for a bit to let the grains in the drink absorb a bit of water, and voila!
For the pouches, depending on the variant, you add 168 to 195 g of powder to our shaker, which we provide all our new customers with free of charge. The right amount of powder is marked on the shaker. Then simply fill the shaker with water, place the included spiral ball on top and shake well. Next step: enjoy your BERTRAND!
Our practical, disposable and environmentally-friendly bottles are filled with water and thoroughly shaken until the powder is completely dissolved. Let stand for a bit to let the grains in the drink absorb a bit of water, and voila!
IS THE COOL SHAKER FREE?
Of course! As a new customer, you’ll automatically receive our shaker free of charge with your first order of one of our three daily pouches. Need more shakers? These can be purchased for a low price in our shop. All shakers come with our practical spiral ball, which whizzes its way through the mixture as you shake to ensure a delicious drink with no clumps!
IS THE SHAKER BPA-FREE and free of oestrogenic activity?
Yes, our shaker is BPA-free. The shaker is made of Tritan, a product developed by Eastman Chemical, which is not only BPA-free, but is also generally chemical free and free of oestrogenic activity. It’s also leak proof and easy to clean. You can even clean it in the top rack of your dishwasher.
You can find out more information about Tritan on the manufacturer’s website: http://www.tritanfromeastman.com
You can find out more information about Tritan on the manufacturer’s website: http://www.tritanfromeastman.com
ALL THIS TALK OF DAILY POUCHES, MEALS AND DISPOSABLE BOTTLES IS CONFUSING! WHAT’S WHAT?
We combine the nutrition you need for one day into one daily bag, which most of our customers divide up and enjoy over three separate meals. So if you order 21 meals from our shop, you’ll can choose a total of 7 pouches. You can also divide up a single daily bag for use over several days, too, for example as a lunchtime meal replacement over three days.
WHAT DOES THE ORGANIC CERTIFICATION MEAN?
This certification means that we run our business under the rules set out by the European Council organic products regulation (EC 834/2007).
What this means for our product is that we use ingredients sourced from certified organic agricultural practices. We do not use any synthetic vitamins or minerals, which is what makes BERTRAND’s composition so complex. All of the vitamins and minerals contained in BERTRAND come from real foods, such as nuts, fruits and grains. This means that our customers can get all the nutrients that are beneficial to the body, including those not currently classed as ‘essential’.
Following the EC organic regulation also means that we don’t use any genetic engineering in our products. None of our ingredients may contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and they can’t be produced using GMOs.
More information about the regulation is available from the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture’s website: https://www.bmel.de/EN/Homepage/homepage_node.html
What this means for our product is that we use ingredients sourced from certified organic agricultural practices. We do not use any synthetic vitamins or minerals, which is what makes BERTRAND’s composition so complex. All of the vitamins and minerals contained in BERTRAND come from real foods, such as nuts, fruits and grains. This means that our customers can get all the nutrients that are beneficial to the body, including those not currently classed as ‘essential’.
Following the EC organic regulation also means that we don’t use any genetic engineering in our products. None of our ingredients may contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and they can’t be produced using GMOs.
More information about the regulation is available from the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture’s website: https://www.bmel.de/EN/Homepage/homepage_node.html
WHERE CAN I FIND YOUR ORGANIC CERTIFICATION
The validity of our organic certification is reviewed every year through inspections and random checks. You can check our current status online at any time. Simply enter our company name, BERTRAND Food, in the search bar here: http://www.oeko-kontrollstellen.de/suchebiounternehmen/SuchForm_EN.php
IS BERTRAND VEGETARIAN? HOW ABOUT VEGAN?
We have made a vegan version of BERTRAND without any animal-based ingredients. The Classic and Active versions both contain milk powder but are vegetarian. Our product is also certified organic under European standards, which means the cows we source our milk from are reared and fed using organic farming practices.
IS BERTRAND SAFE?
We take the safety of our product very seriously. The entire production chain, from choosing our ingredients to shipping, is governed by our internal management handbook. Among other things, this requires that we only entrust trained, specialist staff (such as food technology specialists) with the production of our product.
All areas of our business also undergo regular inspections as well as random checks by at least two independent bodies. The Soest District Food Inspection Board monitors hygiene and product safety. The quality of our ingredients is certified by ABCert, an independent inspection board.
All areas of our business also undergo regular inspections as well as random checks by at least two independent bodies. The Soest District Food Inspection Board monitors hygiene and product safety. The quality of our ingredients is certified by ABCert, an independent inspection board.
I’M UNDER 18. SHOULD I CONSUME BERTRAND?
BERTRAND does not contain any ingredients not suitable for young people. However, as is the case with adults, a long-term diet based solely on our meal replacement shakes should only be undertaken in consultation with a doctor.
CAN I USE BERTRAND BEFORE OR AFTER EXERCISING?
Of course! Athletes around the world use BERTRAND to prepare for competition by topping up their nutrient consumption. Our Active version is particularly well suited to this kind of use thanks to its high protein content.
HOW SHOULD I STORE BERTRAND?
In a cool, dry place. If you store BERTRAND away from direct sunlight in a cool, dry place, you can even enjoy it long past its best before date. The best before date is not the date on which BERTRAND becomes unusable.
We can no longer provide any specific information for pouches that have been opened and resealed. But if you correctly close the pouch and store it in the refrigerator, for example, the powder can still be enjoyed for a long time.
We can no longer provide any specific information for pouches that have been opened and resealed. But if you correctly close the pouch and store it in the refrigerator, for example, the powder can still be enjoyed for a long time.
WHAT IS BERTRAND MADE OF?
We only use natural foodstuffs and our product is certified under organic farming standards. We use the following ingredients in each of our versions:
Classic
Gluten-free wholegrain oats*, canola oil powder* (carrier: maltodextrine*), powdered milk*, ground almond*, ground flaxseed*, agave powder*, ground sunflower seed*, ground walnut*, locust bean gum*, sea buckthorn powder*, rock salt, coconut powder*, nutritional yeast*, algae powder (porphyra)*, algae powder* (chlorella), mushroom powder* (shiitake), guava extract*, lemon peel extract*, basil leaf extract*
Vegan
Gluten-free wholegrain oats*, canola oil powder* (carrier: maltodextrine*), ground almond*, ground flaxseed*, agave powder*, rice protein*, ground sunflower seed*, ground walnut*, sea buckthorn powder*, locust bean gum*, coconut powder*, algae powder* (porphyra), rock salt, natural flavouring, nutritional yeast*, algae powder (lithothamnium calcareum), mushroom powder* (shiitake), algae powder* (chlorella), guava extract*, lemon peel extract*, basil leaf extract*
Active
Gluten-free wholegrain oats*, canola oil powder* (carrier: maltodextrine*), milk protein powder*, powdered skimmed milk*, ground almond*, ground flaxseed*, agave powder*, ground sunflower seed*, ground walnut*, locust bean gum*, sea buckthorn powder*, rock salt, coconut powder*, nutritional yeast*, algae powder (porphyra)*, mushroom powder* (shiitake)
*Grown by certified organic agricultural practices
Natural vanilla, apple and blueberry flavouring can be optionally added.
IS BERTRAND GLUTEN-FREE?
Yes, all of our products are gluten-free. We work according to the far-reaching AOECS standard, and are also licensed by the German Coeliac Society (DZG). Our company code is DE-191.
The oats we use for our product comes from the Demeter Project, which guarantees gluten-free oats. We have engaged Intertek in Bremen to carry out an independent analysis of our product. A global company, Intertek has years of experience in the food analysis industry. Intertek will be carrying out follow-up inspections at regular intervals.
The oats we use for our product comes from the Demeter Project, which guarantees gluten-free oats. We have engaged Intertek in Bremen to carry out an independent analysis of our product. A global company, Intertek has years of experience in the food analysis industry. Intertek will be carrying out follow-up inspections at regular intervals.
I HAVE ALLERGIES. IS THERE ANYTHING I SHOULD BE AWARE OF?
The allergens in our product are marked in bold (see above) in the list of ingredients. We have also tested our product for histamines, which you can find out more about here. <a href=”https://bertrand.bio/bertrand-with-a-histamine-intolerance/”>BERTRAND with a histamine intolerance</a>
CAN I ORDER A MODIFIED VERSION OF BERTRAND?
Unfortunately, our production process does not allow us to add or remove certain ingredients. This means that, at the moment, we are unable to offer customized versions.
CAN I OVERDOSE ON ANY VITAMINS AND MINERALS?
Some of the vitamins and minerals in BERTRAND exceed the recommended values, in some cases by quite a bit. This is natural since cereals like oats do not care about nutritional recommendations for things like manganese. Exceeding the recommended values is actually highly advantageous. Because none of our nutrients exceed the recommended maximum daily value or tolerable upper limit, exceeding the minimum requirements will not endanger your health.
WHO WILL DELIVER MY ORDER?
We generally ship our products with DHL. For orders to be shipped outside of Germany, DHL will work with the national postal services in the respective country. We can also ship your order with UPS, Hermes or DPD by request. For orders outside of Germany, however, this may incur higher shipping costs, so please check with us prior to ordering by sending us an email at hey@bertrand.bio.
DO YOU ALSO SHIP OUTSIDE OF EUROPE?
Yes, we do. However, shipping costs outside of the EU and, in some cases, customs charges may also apply. The shipping costs will be shown during the order process. To find out more about any customs charges you may incur, please contact your local customs office.
Please have a look at our shipping page as well: https://bertrand.bio/shipping/
Please have a look at our shipping page as well: https://bertrand.bio/shipping/
WHAT HAPPENS IF I REFUSE ACCEPTANCE OF THE PACKAGE?
We hope you don’t, but in the unlikely event that something happens that means you have a good reason for refusing the package, the package will be returned to us (for orders in Germany) and we’ll get in touch with you. You can then proceed with a replacement or cancellation of your order free of charge.
If you have ordered from outside of Germany and refuse the package, we can provide a replacement shipment. However, if you decide to cancel your order, we’ll need to deduct the costs of the return shipping from your refund.
If you have ordered from outside of Germany and refuse the package, we can provide a replacement shipment. However, if you decide to cancel your order, we’ll need to deduct the costs of the return shipping from your refund.
WILL I RECEIVE TRACKING INFORMATION?
Of course! You’ll receive an email update when your order is first scanned in the distribution center. The email will contain tracking information.
CAN I HAVE MY ORDER DELIVERED TO A POST BOX (PO BOX)?
We can deliver to DHL’s parcel lockers. Please provide your post box number during the order process to ensure everything goes smoothly. Depending on your post box provider and the size of your post box, we may be able to deliver to post boxes outside of Germany. Please check with our support team before ordering.
WHAT METHODS OF PAYMENT DO YOU ACCEPT?
You can provide payment in advance, pay with PayPal or use pretty much any credit card that exists.
