Frequently Asked Questions

1 a)  What are the differences between hemp and marijuana?
There are many. The most important is that Hemp contains a fraction of the psychoactive compound, Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) that Marijuana does. This is why hemp is legal and marijuana is not. The plants are relatives in the Cannabis family.

b) Will I get “high” eating Manitoba Harvest™ products?
No, eating our products will not get you “high”.  Manitoba Harvest™ hemp foods & oils are made with a hemp seed that has under 10ppm THC, as required by Canadian hemp food laws.

c) Will I fail a urinalysis test if I eat Manitoba Harvest™ products?
No. It has been documented in the Journal of Analytical Toxicology, ISSN 0146-4760, Volume 32, Number 6, July/August, pp.428-432 that eating hemp food products under 10ppm THC will not cause a false positive drug test.

2) Are all Manitoba Harvest ™ products certified organic?
Not all Manitoba Harvest ™ products are certified organic. All Manitoba Harvest ™ hemp seed is grown sustainably without the use of pesticides. No chemicals are sprayed on the crop. We do also grow certified organic hemp seed for our certified organic products. Manitoba Harvest is certified organic by Pro Cert Canada, all products that we sell as organic are certified organic.

3) Is your hemp genetically modified to bring down the THC?
No. The very low THC variety hemp seeds that we use has been selectively bred, not genetically modified. All Manitoba Harvest™ hemp seeds are original source and contain no Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).

4) What are Manitoba Harvest™ hemp foods & oils good for?
Manitoba Harvest™ hemp foods & oils have many beneficial properties and biomolecules that promote health and wellness. Hemp Seed Oil has one of the highest concentrations of polyunsaturated fats and an ideal balance of the omega-6 and omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids. Hemp contains 54.4% linoleic acid(Omega-6), 18.3% linolenic acid(Omega-3), 3-4% gamma-linolenic acid(GLA) and 1-2% stearidonic acid; and as such is one of only 4 oils to do so and is the most economical one of these oils. Hemp's ratio of Omega 6 to Omega 3 fatty acids is about 3.75:1 which mirrors the primitive diet man evolved on for 2.5 million years. This ratio of fatty acids has been shown to prevent and even reverse Alzheimers disease in animal models and humans (Yehuda et al, Int J Neurosci, vol 3, 141-9, 1996). Polyunsaturated fats have been shown to be beneficial for the prevention of heart disease, especially omega 3 fatty acids. Hemp contains phytosterols (B-sitosterol, stigmasterol, campestrol) in high concentration (one of the highest) which are known to reduce cholesterol. In fact, the US, FDA allows the claim that plant sterol and stanol esters reduce the risk of heart disease by lowering cholesterol levels. Hemp contains chlorophyll which is anti-carcinogenic. The phytosterols have been shown to be anticarcinogenic as well (Phytosterols as Anticancer Dietary Components, Awad and Fink, Recent Advances in Nutritional Sciences, 2000, pp 2127-2129). Hemp is a source of complete protein offering 17 different amino acids including all of the essential ones. This protein is relatively high in cysteine and methionine which are two sulfur bearing amino acids that are usually lacking in vegetable proteins. For more information please read our brochure or nutrition articles.

5) How do I use Manitoba Harvest™ hemp foods & oils?
Suggestions for uses range from smoothies to salad dressings, and recipes for the products can be found in the recipes section of the Manitoba Harvest™ web site at www.manitobaharvest.com and in the informational brochure that is available from Manitoba Harvest™. You may request an Info Pack at 1 800 665 HEMP (4367) or at your local retail outlet.

6) I’ve tried other hemp foods and none taste as good as the Manitoba Harvest™ brand. Why?
Manitoba Harvest controls the process from seed to shelf. We are a farmer owned company. Products are processed and packaged using modern equipment in our kosher and organic certified facility that follows Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs). The company’s strong scientific team has and continues to develop proprietary processing techniques that set Manitoba Harvest™ products apart from others on the market. When hemp foods are fresh, they have a pleasant nutty flavor.

7) How much Shelled Hemp Seed should I eat in a day?
3-5 Tablespoons for an adult. 3-5 Teaspoons for a child.

8) How much hemp seed oil should I eat in a day?
1-2 Tablespoons for an adult. 1-2 Teaspoons for a child.

9) What do you mean when you say that hemp foods & oils are safe for long term consumption?
Manitoba Harvest™ hemp foods & oils are balanced food sources of protein, carbohydrates and essential fatty acids. This means that if you eat Manitoba Harvest™ products over a long period of time, you won’t run the risk of setting your body out of balance.

10) How long is the shelf-life of the products?
The Manitoba Harvest™ Hemp Seed Oil and Hemp Seed Butter have an 8 month shelf-life and Hemp Bliss organic hempmilk, Shelled Hemp Seed, Hemp Protein Powder and Hemp Protein Powder with Fiber have a 12 month shelf-life. You can extend the shelf life of all products, besides Hemp Bliss organic hempmilk by keeping the products in the freezer.

11) Should the products be kept refrigerated?
For optimum freshness, it is recommended to refrigerate as much as possible.  Once the product seal is broken, the product should be refrigerated.

12) Can I freeze your products?
Yes. All of the Manitoba Harvest™ hemp foods & oils can be frozen except for Hemp Bliss organic hempmilk & Hemp Seed Oil Capsules. Freezing the other products will extend the shelf life as long as they are in an air-tight container.

13) How does Manitoba Harvest™ Hemp Seed Oil compare to flax seed oil?
Here are some distinctions which separate Manitoba Harvest™ Hemp Seed Oil and flax seed oil;

1. Hemp Seed Oil has a 3.75:1 Omega-6 to Omega-3 ratio (considered optimal). Flax Seed Oil has a 1:4 Omega-6 to Omega-3 ratio.
2. Hemp Seed Oil is a direct source of GLA, Flax Seed Oil is not.
3. Hemp Seed Oil is a direct source of Sterodonic Acid, Flax Seed Oil is not.
4. Hemp Seed Oil contains chlorophyll, Flax Seed Oil does not.
5. Hemp Seed Oil has a pleasant nutty flavor, Flax Seed Oil does not.

14) What allergens does Manitoba Harvest™ hemp foods & oils contain?
The top nine allergens are peanuts, milk, wheat, soy, fish & seafood (including crustaceans), eggs, tree nuts, sesame seeds and sulphites. Manitoba Harvest™ hemp foods & oils do not contain any known allergen including these nine.

15) Why is Manitoba Harvest™ hemp seed oil so green?
      Manitoba Harvest™ Hemp Seed Oil contains a high amount of chlorophyll. Due to low temperature processing the chlorophyll is not destroyed. Chlorophyll is a rich green color thus our hemp seed oil is green.

16) Can I cook with Manitoba Harvest ™ hemp foods & oils?
Manitoba Harvest™ products can be cooked with provided that the temperature does not go above 350 degrees F. Never use the oil for frying due to its high concentration of polyunsaturated fats.

17) What is the difference between your Hemp Protein Powder and your Hemp Protein & Fiber Powder?