Minipic -

Frequently Asked Questions

What does minipic contain?

minipic is manufactured in Switzerland and is made of 100% Swiss beef and pork. Special products which are made of foreign beef or without any beef are offered for export.

Where its ingredients are concerned (protein, fat, water, salt, etc.), minipic is best compared to a good salami.

Ingredients of the original minipic per 100g finished product: pork (65g), beef (56g), bacon (29g), nitrite curing salt (sodium chloride, preservative: E 250), spices, stabiliser: E 450, flavour enhancers: monosodium glutamate and glucose, antioxidant: E 301 (In this context, see also: "What energy value does a minipic have?" and "What are the E numbers in and the ingredients of the minipic?") What energy value does a minipic have? 1 minipic contains 83 kcal or 4% of the recommended daily amount of calories for an adult.

(In this context, see also: "What does minipic contain?")

Downlad the complete nutritional analysis.

What energy value does a minipic have?

1 minipic contains 83 kcal or 4% of the recommended daily amount of calories for an adult.

(In this context, see also: "What does minipic contain?" and "What are the E numbers in and the ingredients of the minipic?")

Why are more than 150g of ingredients declared for 100g minipic?

The applicable legislation requires that the quantity of ingredients which is used to manufacture the product is specified and not what is left over at the end. Since minipic is also air-dried, the meat used loses much of its weight. In order to produce 100 grams minipic, over 150 grams of meat and other ingredients are therefore required.

Can pregnant women eat minipic?

Yes! The process used to produce minipic ensures, in particular, that the risk of listeriosis or toxoplasmosis is excluded, as long as the packaging remains undamaged. The low water content of minipic also prevents any dangerous microorganisms, which theoretically could still be present, from growing.

The manufacturing process for minipic differs significantly from that of salami and even more so from that of raw meat products. The risk of listeriosis or toxoplasmosis is excluded. The laboratory specialists(*) also confirm that due to the production process guaranteed by us there is no risk of toxoplasmosis or listeriosis associated with minipic(**).
minipic can therefore be eaten by pregnant women without any problems at all and is a safe alternative to dry-cured sausages and dry-cured products.

(*)SQTS: Swiss Quality Testing Services, one of the leading laboratories in Switzerland (www.sqts.ch)

(**)Risk analysis conducted on minipic by SQTS (in December 2012/January 2013)

Does minipic have to be cooked?

No, minipic is a pre-cooked product which can be consumed immediately after purchase - even when not refrigerated - without any other preparation. That is why the most common way of preparing minipic is also the simplest: tear open the packaging, bite into it and enjoy! However, minipic also has many different uses in the kitchen. Here are some related ideas to inspire you: www.minipic.ch/rezepte.

Can you cook minipic?

Yes, minipic is very well suited to jazzing up recipes and presenting dishes with a surprising twist. Delicious minipic recipes are available at www.minipic.ch/rezepte.

Where can I find recipes with minipic?

Recipes for cooking with minipic are available on our website at www.minipic.ch/rezepte.

What can I do if my minipic is too hard/too soft?

Some people like minipic to be quite soft, whereas others prefer them to be a bit harder. minipic are not always identical. Why is this the case and what can be done about it?

The content of hard or soft minipic is identical, apart from the bound water content. The quality requirements, recipe and production method are also the same. We are very careful to ensure that we always supply minipic with the same degree of drying, so that they are about equally hard.

minipic are sealed in semi-porous (semi-permeable) packaging. Although this prevents any moisture from getting in, it can – depending on the environment – release varying amounts of moisture externally. This means that minipic become harder as the storage period increases.

It is therefore possible that the minipic – depending on where they are purchased – remain on the shelves for longer or shorter periods and are then sold harder or softer respectively.

If they are too hard, they will not go soft again. However, if they are too soft you can simply store them in the larder for two to three weeks and in this way leave them to dry some more until they have reached your preferred level of hardness.

Must minipic be stored in the refrigerator?

No, minipic can without any problems be stored unrefrigerated at room temperature until the expiry date (see packaging). By the way, storing it in too cold a place results in the efflorescence of protein components. Although this doesn't look nice and leads to queries from time to time, it is completely harmless and can easily be reversed (cf.: "White mould on the minipic?? What is it?")

What is the shelf life of minipic?

minipic doesn't have to be kept refrigerated and has a shelf life of at least 32 days if unrefrigerated (normal shelf life). See packaging for the expiry date. In this context, see also below: ("Is minipic still edible at the end of the shelf life?")

Is minipic still edible at the end of the shelf life?

If unopened, minipic is still edible without risk even long after the end of the shelf life. minipic develops a fuller and more aromatic flavour over time. Approximately 8 weeks after the end of the shelf life, minipic gradually becomes spicier. However, it poses absolutely no bacteriological risk even 3 or 4 months after the expiry date.

"White mould" on the minipic? What is it?

Is this what you mean?

FAQSchimmel

Out of the fridge After 24 hours at room temperature

This whitish layer on the minipic (see the image above) is protein efflorescence and not mould. Its creation is caused by (too) low storage temperatures.

You probably stored the minipic in quite a cold place in the refrigerator, e.g. up against the rear wall, but in principle minipic can be kept unrefrigerated.

In any case, the efflorescence neither affects the flavour of the minipic nor your health. It is completely harmless, occurs naturally and will disappear if the minipic is stored at room temperature for several hours.

Does minipic contain gluten?

minipic is "gluten-free".

Gluten intolerance (generally referred to as coeliac disease) is an allergy to certain water-insoluble proteins. These proteins are present in certain types of grains and are referred to as gluten protein or gluten.

Meat is naturally gluten-free. minipic does not contain any cereals or any other ingredients containing gluten. minipic can therefore be enjoyed without any worries by people suffering from coeliac disease. Download the laboratory analysis.

Does minipic contain lactose?

minipic is "lactose-free".

Lactose intolerance is particularly common in Asia, but also occurs in the Western world. This means that people have an allergic reaction for example to the sugar occurring in cow's milk (milk sugar).

Meat is naturally lactose-free (<0.1g/100g). minipic does not contain any dairy ingredients or other ingredients which contain lactose. minipic is free from lactose, so it can be enjoyed without worry by people with lactose intolerance. Download the laboratory analysis.