You do not need to refrigerate the protein bars. The ingredients in the bars are sensitive to the cold and will harden. For a firmer, chewier, texture - you can put them in a cold location. For a softer texture, you can keep the bars in your pocket before eating them or store in a warmer location. For the softest texture if you are consuming them at home, try taking the bars out of their packaging and microwaving them for 15-30 seconds and they will become super soft like a brownie. They will soft enough to eat with a spoon - just like a dessert.

We chose to use porcine collagen in our protein bars due to its structural similarity to human collagen. We didn’t choose bovine collagen because we did not want to incur any risk regarding bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), also known as Mad Cow Disease Collagen is the most abundant protein in mammals, providing structural support to various tissues such as skin, bones, tendons, and cartilage. Porcine collagen shares a high degree of structural similarity with human collagen, particularly type I collagen, which is the dominant collagen type in human tissues, making up 90% of our collagen. This structural resemblance enhances the compatibility of porcine collagen with human tissues. This compatibility may result in more effective integration of ingested collagen into the body's collagen network, potentially leading to better outcomes in terms of tissue repair, regeneration, and overall health. Additionally, due to porcine collagen’s similarity with human collagen, porcine collagen is generally well-tolerated by the immune system. It is believed that about 3% of people are allergic to bovine collagen whereas allergies to porcine collagen are less. Porcine collagen’s biocompatibility is exhibited through its other medical uses: Wound Healing: Porcine collagen is used in wound dressings and scaffolds to promote wound healing. Its biocompatibility allows it to integrate with the surrounding tissues, facilitating the formation of new tissue and accelerating the healing process. Soft Tissue Augmentation: Porcine collagen is used as a dermal filler in cosmetic procedures to add volume to soft tissues, such as the lips, cheeks, and nasolabial folds. Injectable porcine collagen formulations provide temporary enhancement of facial contours and wrinkle reduction. Bone Grafts and Regeneration: Porcine collagen scaffolds are utilized in bone grafting procedures to promote bone regeneration and repair. These scaffolds provide a supportive matrix for new bone growth and are gradually replaced by the patient's own bone tissue over time. Cartilage Repair: Porcine collagen matrices are used in procedures aimed at repairing damaged cartilage in joints, such as the knee or shoulder. These matrices support the growth of new cartilage tissue, aiding in the restoration of joint function and alleviation of symptoms associated with cartilage defects. Tissue Engineering: Porcine collagen serves as a valuable biomaterial in tissue engineering applications, where it is used to create scaffolds for the regeneration of various tissues, including skin, blood vessels, and nerves. These scaffolds mimic the natural extracellular matrix, providing a supportive environment for cell growth and tissue development. It's essential to note that individual preferences and specific needs may vary. Some people might prefer collagen from other sources like marine or bovine due to dietary restrictions, personal beliefs, or other considerations. Consulting with a healthcare professional can help determine the most suitable type of collagen for individual needs.

Yes. We use dairy free Belgian dark chocolate.

Our oats are 100% Canadian. The honey used in our products is also 100% Canadian. Our peanut butter is produced rght here in British Columbia,. Our Dark Chocolate is from Belgium. Collagen, being our hardest-to-source ingredient, is procured through suppliers in both Canada and the USA. This approach mitigates risks such as supply shortages, long shipping or lead times, and shields against price increases, ensuring consistent quality and availability.

Although none of our five ingredients (collagen, oatmeal, peanut butter, honey, dark chocolate) inherently contain gluten, our oats are processed in a facility that comes in contact with other gluten containing products so there may be trace amounts. It depends on your sensitivity to gluten!

No. Our protein bars contains collagen and honey, which are both products from animals.

Zentein Peanut Butter Cup Collagen Protein Bar: Among the five ingredients, protein is present in collagen, peanut butter, oats, and dark chocolate in descending concentration. Most of the protein comes from collagen protein, which is up to 96% protein by mass. The second largest contributor is from the natural peanut butter, made with dry roasted peanuts. This is a great complement because peanuts contain the amino acid tryptophan, which is the only amino acid missing in collagen. As always, we recommend that you do not rely on the collagen protein bars as your sole source of protein. Eat a balanced and varied diet to make sure you are ingesting all the necessary building blocks to maintain health and recovery. “The results of twenty years of research indicate that the inclusion of collagen peptides in the diet can lead to various improvements in health. According to the current protein quality evaluation method PDCAAS (Protein Digestibility-corrected Amino Acid Score), collagen protein lacks one indispensable amino acid (tryptophan) and is therefore categorized as an incomplete protein source. Collagen protein displays a low indispensable amino acid profile, yet as a functional food, collagen is a source of physiologically active peptides and conditionally indispensable amino acids that have the potential to optimize health and address physiological needs posed by aging and exercise. The objective of this study was to determine the maximum level of dietary collagen peptides that can be incorporated in the Western pattern diet while maintaining its indispensable amino acid balance. Iterative PDCAAS calculations showed that a level as high as 36% of collagen peptides can be used as protein substitution in the daily diet while ensuring indispensable amino acid requirements are met. This study suggests that the effective amounts of functional collagen peptides (2.5 to 15 g per day) observed in the literature are below the maximum level of collagen that may be incorporated in the standard American diet.” - from "Significant Amounts of Functional Collagen Peptides Can Be Incorporated in the Diet While Maintaining Indispensable Amino Acid Balance” DOI: 10.3390/nu11051079

We source our Belgian Dark Chocolate from Belcolade. On their website, they write: “Belcolade is committed to offer 100% sustainable chocolate by 2025. Our Cacao-Trace sustainability program is leading our impact towards a fairer cocoa value chain. In line with our purpose for a better planet, Belcolade is investing to become the world’s first carbon-neutral chocolate factory. We are also transitioning towards sustainable and recyclable packaging.”

We use 100% Canadian honey! The Belgian dark chocolate contains some sugar as well, but we do not add any sugar ourselves apart from the sugar found in honey. Our ingredient label says Sugars (Honey) to follow labelling guidelines set out by the Canadian government: "Honey falls under the definition of a sugars-based ingredient because it is considered a sweetening agent. As such, when honey is used in multi-ingredient foods such as candies and biscuits, honey is required to be grouped in parentheses following the term "Sugars" in the list of ingredients and placed in descending order of its proportion by weight relative to the other ingredients in the product [B.01.008.3(1), (2) and (3), FDR]."