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Product Info

Allergen Statement

Our ice cream-making machinery at The New Dairy is constructed of stainless steel. It is cleaned frequently and thoroughly throughout the production day to eliminate the possibility of pathogen transmission and allergen residue. For this reason, there is an exceptionally small risk of residue “carry over.” For those customers who are extremely sensitive to allergens, including gluten, wheat, soy, milk, and/or tree nuts, please note that all of our ice creams, sorbets, variegates and inclusions are produced and/or processed using the same equipment.

Ingredients & Nutritional Information

For ice cream ingredients and nutritional info, please download list below.
Fine Ice Creams Nutrition Labels (PDF)
Dairy-Free Frozen Desserts Nutritional Labels (PDF) 

Gluten-Free Flavors

All of our ice creams start out gluten-free, and the majority of them stay that way, save for the few that have cookies, pie pieces or any other wheat inclusion added to them. Please see our Nutritional Labels above. Items that are Gluten-Free are labeled "Gluten-Free" underneath the ingredient deck. 

*Please note that all our ice creams are produced in a facility that also makes products that contain milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, and wheat.

Product FAQ’s

Where does your dairy come from?
While McConnell's is a working dairy (The Old Dairy), we are now exclusively a dairy processing facility. McC's exited the dairy farming business in the mid-1960's when land values on the Central Coast skyrocketed. It was simply no longer feasible at that point to manage our own cows. Since that time, McConnell's has sourced our raw milk & cream from Producers Dairy, The Shehadey Family's 83-year-old dairy, based in Central California.

Do you use Organic and Fair-Trade Ingredients?
Most of the purveyors we source from are members of leading fair trade and/or sustainable and environmental trade groups. Guittard Chocolate Company, as one example, is a member of the World Cocoa Foundation, The Rainforest Alliance, and Fair Trade. With regard to organics, at McConnell's, we have one goal: to make the world's finest ice creams. We achieve this is by having exceptionally high standards across the board. To maintain these standards, it’s critical that every ingredient in our ice creams be of the highest quality. The milk & cream we use comes from cows raised by local dairy co-ops on the Central Coast and California Central Valley. It is grass-grazed and hormone and antibiotic free. Our dairy is of exceptionally high quality. We are ardent supporters of organics in general. With that said, in our almost 70 years as a dairy, it’s been our experience that milk & cream can vary greatly in quality and consistency. Inconsistency in milk & cream can be traced to any number of factors, including feed, animal husbandry, and dairy processing. Organic is a term that defines a process, rather than objective quality. There is wonderful and not-so-wonderful organic milk in the market, just as there is wonderful and less wonderful organic fruit, nuts, chocolate, etc. While organic is certainly an important factor when it comes to selecting ingredients for McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams, committing wholly to organics, over objective quality, would suggest we, at McConnell’s valued process over quality. At McConnell's, achieving anything less than our stated goal is unacceptable.

Does McConnell’s make seasonal flavors?
Yes, we have a handful of ice creams that we make during the winter/ holiday season. Along with our seasonally-specific flavors, we partner throughout the year with local farms, artisans, and purveyors to make Limited Edition flavors. Please visit our online store, our McC's scoop shops, and follow our social media, to stay abreast of the latest and greatest from our kitchen at The Old Dairy.

How do I soften the ice cream when it’s too frozen?
The best thing to do, if you want to maximize the flavor of your ice cream, is to let the ice cream soften a bit or temper. Ice cream's flavor is actually suppressed the colder the product is. As it warms up - just a bit - the flavor of the ice cream will notably increase, resulting in maximum enjoyment for you and your guests (that is, if you're kind enough to share). We recommend you let your ice cream sit out on the counter if only for a few minutes. Your taste buds will love you. And hey, we know it's tough, but please don't microwave your ice cream. It hurts our feelings.

What is the shelf life of McConnell’s ice cream?
Officially, we list the recommended shelf life of our McConnell's Fine Ice Creams' pints at fifteen months from the date of manufacture that appears on the underside of all McC's pints. The density of McC's ice creams - they contain little to no air, unlike other brands - actually allows for a longer, effective shelf life.

Are your ice creams Kosher?
All our ice creams and sorbets packed in pints are certified Kosher.